Query about Rajdhani First Class AC

Hi,

My wife and I need to travel to Delhi from Thiruvananthapuram. Instead of going for a low cost airline, I was thinking of giving the Rajdhani express from TVPM - Delhi a try. I have heard rave reviews about the luxury offered by this train and I am very tempted.

I read somewhere that the First Class cabins can be two berths or four berths. I am willing to pay the extra cash and opt for Firs Class if it is two berth cabin. It will make the long train journey very special and romantic if it could be just the two of us

I would really appreciate if you guys can tell me whether the First Class cabins in TVPM - Delhi Rajdhani express are two berth or four berth ones.

Thanks in advance

They have both. Most of the cabins are four berth. I think each 1AC car has one, maybe two "Honeymoon coups". The trick will be reserving one

This Rajdhani only has one First Class air con carriage, hopefully a full carriage, but there is a chance it will only be half a carriage.

A full carriage will have 3 x 4-berth cabins plus 3 x 2-berth coupes.

A half carriage will have 2 x 4-berth cabins plus 1 x 2-berth coupe.

There is a risky way to guarantee a coupe, when you book the tickets, tell them you will have a small dog travelling with you, there will be a small charge (Rs50 or so) for the dog, but the rules state that you can only carry a dog if you book all the berths in a coupe or cabin, so you should be given the coupe.

The berths are allocated 4 or 5 hours before the train departs, just get to your berths 10 minutes before the train departs and tell them you changed your mind about the dog, unless there's a very good reason, I doubt they'll move you.

There is another way, but it may not work, go to the station a few days before the train is due to depart and ask where you can 'request' a coupe, you may have to ask a few different people where to do this, I done it in Madgaon and had to walk to an office about a kilometre from the station.

When you get to the right place, you'll have to fill in a request form and give your reasons.

I was travelling with my girlfriend and a baby, so the request was granted.

A final option, get a small dog.

BTW, I’ve just checked the availability (up to 23rd October) for this train, there seem to be only 4 berths allocated to the Trivandrum-Delhi quota in First Class (and none using the Foreign Tourist Quota), and these berths seem to be selling quick.

Steven

I am appalled that you would advice telling a lie to secure a 2-berth coupe (having a small dog).

Nattusbs

That's awesome information. I couldn't have asked for more. Thanks a million.

Sadly, getting a puppy is out of question. And am not sure I am all that good at implementing the clever tactics of booking saying that I've a dog and then later on telling them I've changed my mind. Also, I dont want to create a scene when my wife is with me.

So I guess the only option I have to fill out the request form and see if I can convince those folks.

By the way, I am planning this trip only in Februray 2008. That's when I'm getting married. So I was talking about the future when I said I'm travelling with my wife

I'll hope that those railway folks will have a heart and allow the honeymoon couple the coupe. :-)

Has anybody mentioned that the two berth coupe is quite cramped for space, being half the size?

But maybe that's what the OP is looking for

I did not find the 2-berth cabins cramped. We liked the ability to have the luggage available (not under the bed). The 2-berth coupes also had a (small) wardrobe! Did not use it though.

We used 1st class 3 times (out of 8 journeys) in July. Whilst you cannot reserve the 2-berth coupes, they do try to give them to couples. This they did, on two of the journeys. On the third (the very smart Mumbai Rajdhani) they gave us a 4 berth cabin, but the two others left the train at the first stop (before the bedding had been delivered), so we had the huge space to ourselves. So yes, they do indeed try to help out couples!

By the way, the Rajdhani food was outstanding. They even asked how spicy we wanted the dishes. They also invited us to see the pantry car, but would not allow photographs.

Normally couples are alloted two berth coupe.

Dear Steven,
----
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432 TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 21-10-2007 H NIZAMUDDIN TRIVANDRUM CNTL GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 1A Class -2A
1 21-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0001 WL/AVAILABLE
2 23-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0004 RAC 1/RAC 1
==================
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432 TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 21-10-2007 H NIZAMUDDIN MADGAON GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 1A Class -2A
1 21-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0004 WL 1/WL 1
2 23-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0004 WL 5/WL 5
====================
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432 TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 21-10-2007 H NIZAMUDDIN KANKANADI GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 1A Class -2A
1 21-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 WL 8/WL 8
2 23-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 AVAILABLE- 0002
==================
##So, NZM-TVC..4 + NZM-MAO...4 + NZM-KNKD..2=10 Berths.
Certainly, this is a Full IAC Coach, though I am unable to figure out where the remaining 8 Berths are going.
----
Here is the composition:-
--
A Coupe..........4 Berths
B Coupe..........4 Berths
F Coupe..........4 Berths
C Coupe..........2 Berths
D Coupe..........2 Berths
E Coupe..........2 Berths.
=====================
##At the time of booking, it must be seen that our Option for Coupe is fed into the System, by typing CP against our names.
As pointed out by you, at the time of finalising the Chart, normally, our Option for Coupe will be considered, and we are allotted a Coupe.

##So, upto 4 hours before scheduled departure of the train it would be a suspense!!!

hi,
I was looking at those posts. We have booked a tkt on Howrah mail from mumbai to howrah in 1AC, as usual the seats are not alloted till now, we r two as couple, and shifting from mumbai to kolkata therefore will have a huge amount of lugguage (8 bags approx) thats why we booked a 1AC expecting that if 2 berth coups are alloted then it would be easier for us, can u guys tell me that whether these trains have 2 berth coups, or how to approach them to make a request for two berth coups, thanks

There will be coupes on the train.

Go to see the chief reservation manager at Mumbai CST station and ask if you can fill in a form to request a coupe, I did this once and got a coupe, you'll have to do this a couple of days before the train departs.

"Couples" means "married heterosexual couples" and is established by names of the form Mr. A. Husband and Mrs. B. Husband.

If you and your spouse use different last names, or if you are not married, reserve using Mr & Mrs. with same last name. They don't check IDs on the train, except potentially the ID of the person who bought the e-ticket, but that person's last name would be on the reservation in any case.

The above strategy is not effective for gay couples, of course.

Deal all,

hi guys wanted a small help from all of you as me & my would be husband we'll be traveling from Delhi to Bangalore after our marriage & we wanted a 2 berth coupe so that we can have our own privacy. is the rajdhani first ac provides 2 berth coupe or four berth coupe, request you all to help who have traveled in rajdhani first ac in the same.

##In the Rajdhani IAC, there will be 3 Coupes (each Two Berths) and 4 Cabins (each Four Berths)

##Do you have any idea about the possible date of departure from Delhi?

##Please look at this:
--------------------------
2430 BANGLORE RJDHNI 22-10-2010 H NIZAMUDDIN BANGALORE CY JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 1A Class -2A
1 22-10-2010 AVAILABLE 6 AVAILABLE 79
2 23-10-2010 AVAILABLE 6 AVAILABLE 92
3 25-10-2010 AVAILABLE 6 AVAILABLE 110
4 26-10-2010 AVAILABLE 6 AVAILABLE 93
============================== ============

##You have to try your luck for a coupe within this limited quote of 6 Berths ONLY.