Knowing the Indian Train

julesa · Feb 20th, 2007, 09:00

there are cloak rooms at pretty much all the major stations. i'd expect there'd be one at Jaipur. it's about 40 rupees a bag for a day or so.

everyone seems to recommend upper berth seats. the main reason seems to be you have them to yourself. if you have lower berth seats, the upper berth occupants will come and sit with you during the day. if your on top you can choose where to sit. (or lie if you're staying up top). i never found it a big deal, either way.

when booking for a couple, you could try preferencing one upper and one lower seat. this may get you the upper and lower berths on the same side, which is good as you've got that side all to yourself.

berth 'rooms' are for four people in 2AC, 2 lower and 2 upper.

steven_ber · Feb 20th, 2007, 13:36

Side upper and lower are great, but not if you're tall as they are a bit shorter than the other berths.

Side berths are even better for daytime travel, you have two individual seats facing each other, both window seats.

A little secret, side berths are almost the same in 3A as they are in 2A, making side berths in 3A very good value for money.

gianni66 · Feb 20th, 2007, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

Side upper and lower are great, but not if you're tall as they are a bit shorter than the other berths.

Side berths are even better for daytime travel, you have two individual seats facing each other, both window seats.

A little secret, side berths are almost the same in 3A as they are in 2A, making side berths in 3A very good value for money.

I have experienced a litlle problem in side lower berth, due to the junction of the two parts of the facing seats when in "sleeping mode"; the metal frame of the seats can be not so well covered by the foam, so that you can have an hard and tight bar right in the middle of your berth, making your sleeping quite uncomfortable!

Maybe it has been a "random" problem of my seats only, but it is possible.

julesa · Feb 22nd, 2007, 09:25

another problem with side berths is if you are served a meal on a tray. there's nowhere to put the tray! the other berths have a table. (altho only one)

emaij · Feb 22nd, 2007, 09:45

What is the difference between upper and side upper?

What do you think about buying RAC tickets for DLI-JLS? Where are we (2 of us) likely to end up?

julesa · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:16

the corridor goes down the middle of the carriage, lengthways.

on one side bunks are oriented in a transverse direction. there are 4 to a berth area, 2 upper, 2 lower, facing eachother with a 3 foot gap between both sides.

on the other side of the corridor are the 2 side bunks, 1 lower, 1 upper, oriented longitudinally.

so there's 6 bunks in total in this 'area' if that makes sense. this arrangement is repeated x 15 or so for the length of the carriage.

hope that makes sense.

emaij · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:20

Thanks. So for 2 people traveling together the side bunk gives more privacy? Or does it not make a difference?

If I buy RAC might I end up without a place to lie down?

julesa · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:26

what's RAC?

the side bunks are right next to and along the corridor. i felt the other bunks were better, there is more space and your head is away from the busy and noisy corridor, altho the downside from a privacy perspective is you will share them with others.

emaij · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:29

RAC is "Reservation Against Cancellation" as in the berth is not currently available but it lets you book with berth assigned later.

julesa · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:35

but you still specify the class, right? if you're in 2AC you'll get to lie down at night, everyone does.

read the sticky thread on booking train tickets for which classes get what, i didn't get into less than 2AC. "sleeper class" is not what it sounds like

steven_ber · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by emaij

What is the difference between upper and side upper?

What do you think about buying RAC tickets for DLI-JLS? Where are we (2 of us) likely to end up?

Why Jalesar Road?

It's a short journey, so RAC will get you seats.

I've a feeling you mean JSL (Jaisalmer).

RAC means you're almost there, you almost have confirmed reservations.

So now you hopefully see the importance of details, like journey date, if you're traveling today you may have a problem, if you're traveling in 2 weeks, your RAC tickets will be confirmed by then.

steven_ber · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:42

Just to clarify.

Look at the image below.....

Look at 23 & 24 in 3A, during the day, these are seats that face each other, at night they turn into an upper berth and a lower berth, 24 goes into the upper berth, but instead of 23 turning into a lower berth it is kept as 2 seats, these 2 seats will be used for RAC tickets, meaning there are 3 people in this section, one person (with a confirmed ticket) lying down in the upper berth (24) and two RAC ticket holders sitting in seats 23 & 24, below the upper berth.

If someone (just one person) in the carriage has cancelled in the last 4 hours (when the reservation chart is printed) or simply doesn't turn up for the train, one of the RAC ticket holders (in seats 23 & 24) will be given the empty berth (EG. berth 6), so there will now only be one person left in seats 23 & 24, so these seats will now be turned into a lower berth.

I've had RAC tickets many times, but got a berth on all but one of the trains, that time I just slept on the floor.

From another thread....

Quote:

Waitlisted tickets have 2 waitlist numbers.......

WL/15 ----WL/05

The above waitlist number would mean that you joined the waitlist at position 15, but due to cancellations (before and after you bought the ticket) you have now moved to waitlist position 5.

The first number will always remain the same, only the 2nd number will move.

After another 5 cancellations you will move onto an RAC (reserved against cancellation) number, so you will then be.....

WL/15 ----RAC/04 (for example)

RAC gets you a seat, but not a berth.

A berth is kept as 2 seats, one more cancellation or person not showing up in your carriage will allow one of you to take that persons berth and then the 2 seats are turned into a single berth, meaning you both get a berth.

There are only a few RAC positions in each carriage.

WL/15 ----RAC/04 would mean that you would get a confirmed berth after 4 more cancellations.

Most cancellations take place in the last few days before the train is due to depart.

The whole system is very complex, different rules to different trains, this train is more likely to get confirmed berths than that train and so on, and so on.

emaij · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:46

Yes I meant JSL!

OK I think I'll risk it. Will they somehow inform me if it opens up beforehand? Or is there a way for me to check?

steven_ber · Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:52

You have to check yourself.

There will be a 10 digit PNR number, you check using this number.

You'll have to be quick though, RAC can be one place away from a waitlist position, and waitlist tickets can't be booked via E-ticket.

Nick-H · Feb 22nd, 2007, 12:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

It's a short journey, so RAC will get you seats.

just to add emphasis to Steven's post.

RAC must be the most asked-about abbreviation of all in the area of all this mysterious Indian Train stuff!

It gets you on the train (WL does not). It gets you a seat in the class you have booked for. It gets you a berth if there is sufficient further cancellation.

View Poll Results: Which class you would prefer in Indian train?
Second Class (Unreserved)	36	4.29%
Sleeper Class	258	30.71%
AC 3-Tier sleeper	155	18.45%
AC 2-Tier sleeper	284	33.81%
AC First Class	158	18.81%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 840. You may not vote on this poll

Feb 20th, 2007, 13:36	#212
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,565	Side upper and lower are great, but not if you're tall as they are a bit shorter than the other berths. Side berths are even better for daytime travel, you have two individual seats facing each other, both window seats. A little secret, side berths are almost the same in 3A as they are in 2A, making side berths in 3A very good value for money. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Feb 22nd, 2007, 09:45	#215
emaij Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 13	What is the difference between upper and side upper? What do you think about buying RAC tickets for DLI-JLS? Where are we (2 of us) likely to end up? Last edited by emaij : Feb 22nd, 2007 at 10:46.

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Feb 20th, 2007, 09:00	#211
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 356	there are cloak rooms at pretty much all the major stations. i'd expect there'd be one at Jaipur. it's about 40 rupees a bag for a day or so. everyone seems to recommend upper berth seats. the main reason seems to be you have them to yourself. if you have lower berth seats, the upper berth occupants will come and sit with you during the day. if your on top you can choose where to sit. (or lie if you're staying up top). i never found it a big deal, either way. when booking for a couple, you could try preferencing one upper and one lower seat. this may get you the upper and lower berths on the same side, which is good as you've got that side all to yourself. berth 'rooms' are for four people in 2AC, 2 lower and 2 upper.

Feb 22nd, 2007, 09:25	#214
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 356	another problem with side berths is if you are served a meal on a tray. there's nowhere to put the tray! the other berths have a table. (altho only one)

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:16	#216
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 356	the corridor goes down the middle of the carriage, lengthways. on one side bunks are oriented in a transverse direction. there are 4 to a berth area, 2 upper, 2 lower, facing eachother with a 3 foot gap between both sides. on the other side of the corridor are the 2 side bunks, 1 lower, 1 upper, oriented longitudinally. so there's 6 bunks in total in this 'area' if that makes sense. this arrangement is repeated x 15 or so for the length of the carriage. hope that makes sense.

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:20	#217
emaij Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 13	Thanks. So for 2 people traveling together the side bunk gives more privacy? Or does it not make a difference? If I buy RAC might I end up without a place to lie down?

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:26	#218
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 356	what's RAC? the side bunks are right next to and along the corridor. i felt the other bunks were better, there is more space and your head is away from the busy and noisy corridor, altho the downside from a privacy perspective is you will share them with others.

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:29	#219
emaij Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 13	RAC is "Reservation Against Cancellation" as in the berth is not currently available but it lets you book with berth assigned later.

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:35	#220
julesa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: melbourne australia Posts: 356	but you still specify the class, right? if you're in 2AC you'll get to lie down at night, everyone does. read the sticky thread on booking train tickets for which classes get what, i didn't get into less than 2AC. "sleeper class" is not what it sounds like

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:46	#223
emaij Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 13	Yes I meant JSL! OK I think I'll risk it. Will they somehow inform me if it opens up beforehand? Or is there a way for me to check?

Feb 22nd, 2007, 11:52	#224
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,565	You have to check yourself. There will be a 10 digit PNR number, you check using this number. You'll have to be quick though, RAC can be one place away from a waitlist position, and waitlist tickets can't be booked via E-ticket.