It's a train question 'bout waiting lists - sorry!!

Erica

I'm really sorry, I've read loads of the train threads but I'm still confused!

The train we want is the H. Nizamuddin - Madgaon Rajdhani express which leaves at 11am on 21st Feb (2AC, No 2432) I've tried booking online but the train appears to be fully booked. Can we get on the waiting list online because hopefully by the time we get there we'll have a chance of getting on that train. Similar trains take up to ten hours longer. If we are able to get on the waiting list online how does it work? Is there a ticket that tells you you are in a queue and would this be delivered to our hotel in Delhi? Do I need to try and book an I-ticket rather than an E-ticket?

Who'd have thought getting a train could be so complicated?

Thanks ever so much. I really should find an suitable avitar...

Erica

Erica

Just a further query. I can't seem to contact the hotel so I'm worried that if the tickets are delivered there weeks before we arrive they might not accept them or might lose them. Is it possible to book I-tickets and pick them up from the station?

Nick-H

Looks to me like there's 29 seats available in 3AC. 2AC is WL/1 only... only one person has to cancel before you at least get on the train.

But I am a train novice; one of the experts will be along in a minute

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steven_ber

You should consider booking tickets in 3-tier air con as suggested by Nick.

21- 2-2006 AVAILABLE- 0029

You can book this ticket and then print the ticket on your home computer, make sure you select e-ticket.

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

steven_ber

If you want to travel in 2-tier air con, you will have to first contact the hotel (Waitlisted tickets can't be booked via e-ticket).

The waitlisted ticket will get confirmed, look at the following: -

Train date - waitlist position

5- 2-2006 WL 40/WL 21
7- 2-2006 WL 18/WL 10
12- 2-2006 WL 22/WL 14
14- 2-2006 WL 17/WL 13
19- 2-2006 WL 21/WL 11
21- 2-2006 WL 1/WL 1

WL 40/WL 21 means - the last person to buy a ticket joined the waitlist in position 40, but there have already been 19 cancellations, so their actual waitlist position is now 21.

Erica

Great, thanks for your help (again). So it's sounds as though we'd have a good chance of getting on 2AC given we've got three weeks but I'll book 3AC just to be sure of getting a seat. Have you got any tips for ringing Delhi? I tried to get through via an 0870 number but the line was dreadful and I only got as far as "Hello? I'm calling from the UK..." before it went dead!

Sama

I am WL 3 in 2AC from Rameswaram to Chennai on March 27, Setthu Express. I'm thinking my chances of getting a seat are pretty good considering I am #3 and it's more than a month ahead? Or should I book a seat on the Chennai Express (lots of availability right now) just in case??

Hmmm........

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BE THE REVOLUTION

zzzehar

Need not worry abt getting the tickets cancelled. You will get the seat confirmed for sure. Just keep checking regularly for the confirmation status. One month is a hell lotta time + WL #3 is very likely to get confirmed.

BTW< Never heard of a "Kaur" with "Narayan" as prefix. Where do you hail from?

Sama

Narayan Kaur is my spiritual name given to me by the kundalini yoga organization here in the states. Thank you for asking.

om sat nam

Nick-H

After my recent nail-biting not-knowing-if-we-would-get-on-the-train right up to going to gthe station I think it is a pretty good idea to book more than one option.

I think there is a fee for cancellation of the unused tickets: look at it as insurance!

vsp27759

Dear Steven,
Please look at this:-
......
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432 TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 2-4-2006 H NIZAMUDDIN MADGAON GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 2- 4-2006 AVAILABLE- 0020
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I wanted to know the Total Quota for NZM-TVC Journey, but the position is as follows:-
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432 TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 2-4-2006 H NIZAMUDDIN TRIVANDRUM CNTL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 2- 4-2006 WL 10/WL 10
----------
So, the Summer Rush had already descended on Rajadhani Express. :-)
======================
Coming back, those who are in NZM-MAO Waiting List for 2A, will have chances of confirmation, only when there are cancellations from out of 20 Berths Quota earmarked for NZM-MAO Journey. I don't think, there would be any vacancies from out of TVC-NZM Quota, having seen the Waiting List for 2nd April,2006 as on date!!!!.
--------------
The Tatkal will be of little use for NZM-MAO Journey, because they have to pay fare upto TVC!!!!
===========
Your views.
V.Srinivasa Prasad
2.2.2006/11.50 hrs.
========================

steven_ber

Eventually got the IR website in good working order....

WL03 (out of 10 available), I'd suggest a back-up plan just in case, then get a refund on the unused ticket.

FC has 7 available for that train, I'd get one of them.

Or

Train 6702 departs Rameswaram at 13:05 and gets to Tambaram at 07:00

2A = AVAILABLE- 0007 (27- 3-2006)

Sama

Steven, I took your advice and got a confirmed FC ticket from RMM to TBM. As you say, I can always get a refund for the other ticket. I noticed on another train thread that FC is non AC? That's fine with me since most of the time I FROZE in AC in India -- but is that why FC was about 300R less than 2AC?

(oh my god, now I'M talking in Indian rail code and I haven't even taken my first trip! )

also, FYI, when I first tried to book the FC ticket, I used my AMEX (which I used to book the 2AC on this route.) It would not take it. Tried again, different credit card, and it was fine. Is this a weird glitch where you can't use the same credit card for 2 tickets on the same train?

anyway, I got a confirmed seat now!!

thanks for your help!

now tell me how easy it is to get a refund at a train station...

steven_ber

FC is my favourite way to travel, loads of room and open windows (that should be closed when you go to sleep to prevent wandering hands helping themselves to anything you leave on the small table).

FC will be warmer than air-con as the fans are not great, but I’ve never fount it too hot, the open window can make it seem dusty (and it can be a bit dusty), but a 5 minute wipe over with a few baby-wipes at the start of the journey will make a big difference.

You will lose the security an open carriage offers a woman travelling alone, but then again, you won't have any problems.

If you're travelling with one other person and would like a coupe (a 2-berth cabin instead of a 4-berth), go to the station manager a day or two before the train departs and tell him you'll be taking a small dog with you, you'll be charged an extra Rs30 or 40, but guaranteed a coupe, just tell them you've changed your mind when you turn up for the train, the berths will have already been allocated by then.

You will find that you have no carriage or berth number on your ticket, this is normal on FC and 1A tickets as the berths are not allocated till 4 hours before departure, there will only be a CNF (confirmed) on your ticket.

Also ask the station manager for a bed roll to be allocated to your berth as this is not automatic in FC, this will cost you about Rs30, the bed roll will be the same as that provided in air-con.

If you take to FC (and most people do), air-con will always seem like there's something missing in comparison.

Only in India.

I have no idea why this happened.

Easy, have a look at the following thread.

Understanding Reservation Forms.

At the bottom of the first post in that thread there are details of how to cancel a ticket.

Go to the train a couple of days before departure and have a look at an FC compartment and decide if that’s the way you want to travel, then you know what ticket to cancel.

Sama

steven, you ROCK!