Rajdhani Express - 1AC

Thanks to the members of this site I think I've settled on using this service between Kerala and Goa. A big part of this decision is that despite having traveled a bit, I've never had a First Class train experience and my Indian colleagues have told me I'll be looked after quite well.

The specific train is 2431, and I'm willing to spend the money. Has anyone else taken this train? I'd love to hear about it. Or for that matter any Rajdhani Express since they share an equivalent level of service.

One thing that seems unusual - for an "express" it makes quite a few stops. Is is very easy to get any sleep with all the starting and stopping? Or does "express" mean "fast"?
Thanks!
Pete

1AC on the Rajdhani is a great way to travel if money's no object!! If you get the coupe with only two beds you have lots of room and even the fourbedded coupe is roomy enough!!

All you meals are included as well as water and newspapers. Best of all there's a shower in the toilet (shared).

Be aware though that although you are paying the premium price for this journey you are still expected to share the coupe!!!!

This train is the fastest between the two places and has priority over other trains which means few delays!!

You're spot on, as usual !

Always opt for the Rajdhani Express, where there's one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie Be aware though that although you are paying the premium price for this journey you are still expected to share the coupe!!!!

I woulld suggest that you request upper or lower birth as you wish ( I like the lower birth) at the time of booking.
You can also request a two birth or four birth cabin, at the time of booking.

I think the booking office would ask you your profession, and they ensure "similar" "class" of travellers are put together to make the journey very enjoyable in terms of conversations.

Ooooh! I do hope you enjoy your Rajdhani experience .... I loved it. I've not travelled the route you are taking, but went from Kolkata to Delhi, and then Delhi to Mumbai .... both of which were terrific. It was a real treat to be very comfortable, very private (on both trips we were given a two berth coupe, and didn't have to share during the day either). The food was great, the berths comfortable, and it was sheer luxury when someone actually came to make them up for us!

Lie/sit back, and enjoy it.

P.S I also appreciate how lucky we are to be able to afford to do it - so please don't think I'm being smug.

Hi Judi;
I noticed you are posting from England and I thought you might be amused to hear that it was England where we "discovered" what service is all about. My wife used to be a travel agent and managed to arrange a self-guided tour via a boutique company that specializes in very nice upscale trips. (To the normal middle-class person this translates as "unaffordable".) Well, I've never experienced this level of service before, and my first reaction kind of surprised the people who were supposed to take care of us. We didn't anticipate all the little things that would be done for us, and it was a real treat. What I found humorous was the staff gently explaining that it was their job to look after all these details, and my wife warning me not to get used to it. One of the funniest things was parking the cheapo Hyundai we rented among Bentleys, etc. at one particular place. It looked so out of place I worried about it being towed away.
Pete

Lovely reply, Pete - thanks for sharing it! I'm so glad you had a good experience here.

Actually, the greatest treat of all with my first Rajdhani trip came before we'd even got on the train. We had stayed in a little mining town in Bihar, in a dreadful hotel which had recently been the scene of a 'gangland' murder. The whole stay (less than 24 hours, I'm glad to say) was fraught, and I was feeling pretty emotional waiting on the crowded railway station for a train that was (as usual) running late.

The train pulled into the station, to be greeted by what seemed thousands of people - but in reality was probably just hundreds - one of the doors opened and a steward dressed all in white leaned out and said "Good Evening Mrs Judi" ! I was completely amazed at the time - although later I realised about the passenger lists posted on the side of the carriage, and the fact that I was the only white woman amongst all these people was a bit of a clue to my identity ..... nevertheless, it was one of my favourite Indian experiences.

First time I am going to travel by Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express 1st AC from New Delhi to Cuttack. Can anybody tell me whether these first AC cabins have two berths or four berths. If I need two berth cabins then what to do ? How I can get two berths ?

The Rajdhani has both 2-berth coupes and 4 berth cabins.

How many people on your ticket?

Who else?

Your wife?

Is there any update on Rajdhani trains having wifi services, Iam more particular about Bangalore- Delhi Rajdhani 1AC. If so, how is the pricing and how does one get the wifi to work.

Around mid-Oct'11, I was trying to make use of Wifi at New Delhi railway station when the Howrah-bound Rajdhani was about to start, but I could not find the signal. So, I'd not count it to be available on a running train.

This is just to give my experience, overall scenario may differ.