Kangra Valley Railway

eein · Sep 4th, 2006, 00:59

I am visiting India in October and want to use the Kangra Valley Railway on the way back to Delhi from McLeod Ganj.

Can anyone confirm that the timetable for this railway listed in the Trains sticky thead is still correct? The 'trains at a glance' timetable I downloaded does not list the Kangra station on it (see table 93 in TAAG).

Also, I have read much about this railway on this forum, but did not see anything about how to book a ticket for it. It does not seem to work on the irctc site. I want to catch a specific train and am worried that if I don't book, we might miss it.

Cheers,

Iain

maddog · Sep 4th, 2006, 01:02

As far as I know there are no reservable carriages on this train hence it is not listed on The Indian Railways site.

eein · Sep 5th, 2006, 03:27

So I can only buy tickets at the station on the day of travel?

Does anyone know if these trains tend to fill up? ie should I get there early?

And is there anywhere I can get a proper timetable instead of having to interpolate from the partial one in TAAG?

cyberhippie · Sep 5th, 2006, 03:30

Well when I arrived on the morning train the the toy train was empty of passengers, this was in late March I believe. Mind you the blessed thing never moved and we took a taxi, but it was supposed to leave and there were spare seats!!

There is a complete timetable for all trains in India or at least there used to be..........I've forgotten the name for the moment and anyway it's like "rocking horse dung" to find even within India!!

Most of the trains you are likely to need are listed in TAAG or on the India Rail WWW. The other trains which are not listed tend to be passenger trains who's priority is thew lowest of the low. So if an important train like a Rajdhani Exp is delayed (the premium clas of train in India) there's a dominoe effect and passenger trains are the worst effected.I've fond memories of spending Christmas Day on a passenger train the 1 hour journey took 10 hours as all the delayed expressed sped past out various sidings we were shunted into. Something to bear in mind when using passenger trains. It's not always the case but it's happened to us several times!!

eein · Sep 5th, 2006, 03:34

It would be a shame if we had to get a taxi instead! Does anyone have a feel for whether it is a reliable service or not?

cyberhippie · Sep 5th, 2006, 03:43

We only waited for about an hour, we were shattered having shot through Delhi on the way north I'm sure the train did depart we just couldn't be bothered to wait too long!!

unclelach · Sep 5th, 2006, 10:39

I took the Kangra train from Pathankot in 2003. The train travels quite slowly through rich and varied hilly farmland. There are numerous small stations along the way. The ride includes a splendid view of the Pong Dam on the Beas River.

Few foreign tourists use the train which is a pity but my train was quite filled by locals.

I don't know if the service keeps to a timetable. Maybe the only way to be sure of reaching a Delhi train is to take a taxi.

eein · Sep 5th, 2006, 19:15

We are just planning to use it on the way back to Delhi to connect with the overnight Shabati in Pathankot. I think we will go down to Kangra ealier in the day and investigate times and tickets and be prepared to hange around a bit.

I keep reading that the train is really interesting - an attraction in its own right.

Does anyone know the approx duration of the journey fron Kangra to Pathankot?

smo · Sep 5th, 2006, 19:39

Today I was trying to get some more info on this train. I am also interested and want to cover this in next few months. What I know it runs between Phathankote and Joginder Nagar. This site http://www.trainenquiry.com/ is down today . Here we can see all trains of a particular station. Want to know all trains from Pathankote

freenote · Sep 5th, 2006, 20:48

It will not help a lot but the nearest station to mcleod ganj is Kangra Mandir .we checked up on the train timings locally and booked a taxi to take us there ,the driver seemed surprised that anyone wanted to go there don't no why , Lovely little station

kullukid · Sep 5th, 2006, 21:48

Hi, If you go to this link kangra narrow gauge timetable??????

you will see a post in reply to me from that great IM train expert STEVEN BER who unfortunately doesn't play here anymore!
There is a railway office in Dharamsala nr the state bank of India you can book it there.
Unfortunately even though i got the timetable etc, i still didn't manage to catch the toy train.I was wanting to travel from Palampur to Jogindernagar, so i got the hotel in Bhagsu to give me a 6am call, by the time i'd showered & breakfast there was a taxi waiting to take me to Palampur, got there around 7.45 to find out that the station did not open until 8.30 but the train was due at 8.10.... Sat in the wonderful little station waiting but no train coming! At 8.30 ticket office opens, i ask "What time is train to Jogindernagar?" REPLY "train delayed not coming until 11am" So i got the station master to put my bags in his office & took a stroll into Palampur, after several chai's & orange cream biscuits headed back to the station. Sat waiting on the platform & saw a train heading in the wrong direction. Suddenly it's 11.15 i go to the station master "When is train coming?" REPLY "train cancelled!"
Collected my bags walked back to main street & jumped on bus heading to Manali, Oh well maybe next time,this IS India! KK

Nick-H · Sep 5th, 2006, 22:57

Good News: Steven does play here still

Better News: He is still a Moderator

Even Better News (or at least an even better reason for not-so-good news...): Due to new familly responsibilities he cannot visit so often

Best News: He has an India trip coming up soon

freenote · Sep 6th, 2006, 04:24

So it appears that the service is not the most reliable and also it is not the fastest train with witch to get from point A to point B . In its defence the area it serves is beautiful and one must remember it is only the local passenger train,its stations appear very user friendly (if you are not in a hurry) and after conducting a survey of the other toy trains in India (5)it must rank as second on the list

jw46 · Sep 6th, 2006, 11:11

On my list of possibles as well, as long as I will be in Pathankot on my way to Mcleodganj... will play it by ear, I guess...

Always plan B or C or D... Used to winging it..The way my life goes...

smo · Sep 6th, 2006, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by freenote

after conducting a survey of the other toy trains in India (5)it must rank as second on the list

Within last two years I have coverd Kalka Shimla, Ooty & Darjeeling toy trains and the fourth one I am planning is this one. Which one is the 5th toy train in your list ?

Sep 4th, 2006, 00:59	#1
eein Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 6	Kangra Valley Railway I am visiting India in October and want to use the Kangra Valley Railway on the way back to Delhi from McLeod Ganj. Can anyone confirm that the timetable for this railway listed in the Trains sticky thead is still correct? The 'trains at a glance' timetable I downloaded does not list the Kangra station on it (see table 93 in TAAG). Also, I have read much about this railway on this forum, but did not see anything about how to book a ticket for it. It does not seem to work on the irctc site. I want to catch a specific train and am worried that if I don't book, we might miss it. Cheers, Iain

Sep 5th, 2006, 10:39	#7
unclelach Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: melbourne, australia Posts: 263	A unique train ride I took the Kangra train from Pathankot in 2003. The train travels quite slowly through rich and varied hilly farmland. There are numerous small stations along the way. The ride includes a splendid view of the Pong Dam on the Beas River. Few foreign tourists use the train which is a pity but my train was quite filled by locals. I don't know if the service keeps to a timetable. Maybe the only way to be sure of reaching a Delhi train is to take a taxi.

Sep 5th, 2006, 19:39	#9
smo Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 75	Today I was trying to get some more info on this train. I am also interested and want to cover this in next few months. What I know it runs between Phathankote and Joginder Nagar. This site http://www.trainenquiry.com/ is down today . Here we can see all trains of a particular station. Want to know all trains from Pathankote __________________ India travel destinations

Sep 5th, 2006, 20:48	#10
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,955	It will not help a lot but the nearest station to mcleod ganj is Kangra Mandir .we checked up on the train timings locally and booked a taxi to take us there ,the driver seemed surprised that anyone wanted to go there don't no why , Lovely little station Attached Thumbnails

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Sep 4th, 2006, 01:02	#2
maddog Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: India Posts: 31	As far as I know there are no reservable carriages on this train hence it is not listed on The Indian Railways site.

Sep 5th, 2006, 03:27	#3
eein Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 6	So I can only buy tickets at the station on the day of travel? Does anyone know if these trains tend to fill up? ie should I get there early? And is there anywhere I can get a proper timetable instead of having to interpolate from the partial one in TAAG?

Sep 5th, 2006, 03:30	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Well when I arrived on the morning train the the toy train was empty of passengers, this was in late March I believe. Mind you the blessed thing never moved and we took a taxi, but it was supposed to leave and there were spare seats!! There is a complete timetable for all trains in India or at least there used to be..........I've forgotten the name for the moment and anyway it's like "rocking horse dung" to find even within India!! Most of the trains you are likely to need are listed in TAAG or on the India Rail WWW. The other trains which are not listed tend to be passenger trains who's priority is thew lowest of the low. So if an important train like a Rajdhani Exp is delayed (the premium clas of train in India) there's a dominoe effect and passenger trains are the worst effected.I've fond memories of spending Christmas Day on a passenger train the 1 hour journey took 10 hours as all the delayed expressed sped past out various sidings we were shunted into. Something to bear in mind when using passenger trains. It's not always the case but it's happened to us several times!!

Sep 5th, 2006, 03:34	#5
eein Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 6	It would be a shame if we had to get a taxi instead! Does anyone have a feel for whether it is a reliable service or not?

Sep 5th, 2006, 03:43	#6
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	We only waited for about an hour, we were shattered having shot through Delhi on the way north I'm sure the train did depart we just couldn't be bothered to wait too long!!

Sep 5th, 2006, 19:15	#8
eein Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK Posts: 6	We are just planning to use it on the way back to Delhi to connect with the overnight Shabati in Pathankot. I think we will go down to Kangra ealier in the day and investigate times and tickets and be prepared to hange around a bit. I keep reading that the train is really interesting - an attraction in its own right. Does anyone know the approx duration of the journey fron Kangra to Pathankot?

Sep 5th, 2006, 21:48	#11
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 1,211	Hi, If you go to this link kangra narrow gauge timetable?????? you will see a post in reply to me from that great IM train expert STEVEN BER who unfortunately doesn't play here anymore! There is a railway office in Dharamsala nr the state bank of India you can book it there. Unfortunately even though i got the timetable etc, i still didn't manage to catch the toy train.I was wanting to travel from Palampur to Jogindernagar, so i got the hotel in Bhagsu to give me a 6am call, by the time i'd showered & breakfast there was a taxi waiting to take me to Palampur, got there around 7.45 to find out that the station did not open until 8.30 but the train was due at 8.10.... Sat in the wonderful little station waiting but no train coming! At 8.30 ticket office opens, i ask "What time is train to Jogindernagar?" REPLY "train delayed not coming until 11am" So i got the station master to put my bags in his office & took a stroll into Palampur, after several chai's & orange cream biscuits headed back to the station. Sat waiting on the platform & saw a train heading in the wrong direction. Suddenly it's 11.15 i go to the station master "When is train coming?" REPLY "train cancelled!" Collected my bags walked back to main street & jumped on bus heading to Manali, Oh well maybe next time,this IS India! KK

Sep 5th, 2006, 22:57	#12
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,173	Good News: Steven does play here still Better News: He is still a Moderator Even Better News (or at least an even better reason for not-so-good news...): Due to new familly responsibilities he cannot visit so often Best News: He has an India trip coming up soon

Sep 6th, 2006, 04:24	#13
freenote senior member refused Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: cornwall UK Posts: 1,955	So it appears that the service is not the most reliable and also it is not the fastest train with witch to get from point A to point B . In its defence the area it serves is beautiful and one must remember it is only the local passenger train,its stations appear very user friendly (if you are not in a hurry) and after conducting a survey of the other toy trains in India (5)it must rank as second on the list

Sep 6th, 2006, 11:11	#14
jw46 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: USA Posts: 88	On my list of possibles as well, as long as I will be in Pathankot on my way to Mcleodganj... will play it by ear, I guess... Always plan B or C or D... Used to winging it..The way my life goes...

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