Sleeper Class details & photos.

I am not a doctor, yet (medical student actually). I just wondered if that option existed online, as I hadn't seen it beside the "senior" category while making my reservation.
Just curiosity...

The Senior discount is marvellous! I was told about it shortly after my 60th birthday when I was booking a train to Pathankot. Would never have picked up that even a foreigner could avail oneself of this if the kind man in booking office hadn't pointed it out to me.
Back to Sleeper Class - thought I would pass on the experiences of my nephew and friend who have been booking this class only for all their travels. They came on Delhi-Jaisalmer Express, a long journey, via Sleeper Class. Two hardy, strong young fellows but arrived with colds. However not to put it down to Sl.class could be picked up anywhere. They said they were perfectly happy with their arrangements, my nephew had a sleeping bag, his friend donned thermal underwear at night and slept in his YHA sleeping sheet.
The carriage got crowded occasionally during the day but always quieter at night and they slept very well. They were lucky with weather, whilst cold, not too windy so not so much dust or sand coming in. In fact they might just have walked out of First Class by their appearances when I greeted them! They said they enjoyed themselves this way and were continuing to book that class - they are on strict budgets and this is the way they are able to cover so much distance cheaply.

this article is great
thank you steven_ber

pardon my silly questions, are there always some open or impossible to close windows at the SL? i always took it for some short day trips. now i am trying a short notice booking for 15 feb delhi varanasi, i have 1 2AC seat on foreign quota offerred and 1WL on normal, not sure if i will get it. never travelled 12 hours night trip in SL, just wondering how cold will be.
actually would it be warmer in 2AC or not?

It will definitely be warmer in 2AC - they put heating on when it is cold. You will also have a thick blanket plus bedsheets.

last january we have experienced SL from Ernakulam to Bangalore, 11 hours, ovrnite inside the train. not bad and no blanket and pillow provided. you can close the window too if feel cold.

From Delhi to Agra we have took a train AC, returned. Provided breakfast and dinner too, 2 hours journey.

From Chennai to Ernakulam, we tried 2 AC train. Not bad, it non open window. It a glass window where u still can view outside if your seat below.

I have never encountered a window that does not close. However .. most windows .. will have a few millimeters of gap at the bottom.

Chilled air rushes in ... & if you are on the lower berth ... you may have a hard time.

Its best to carry along a bedsheet to cover yourself, not to mention the standard woolens. Trains often pass areas which can be very cold at nights.

AC compartments will always have a standard temp .. so it will be more comfortable.

i dun have any difficulties in SL. i brought my owe blanket. my bed is on lewer bed, n at nite i close it.
AC class is more comfortable and spacious, there is a ceiling fan too, eventhou have an AC.

I love sleeperclass. It is definitively the best way to "experience" India. And saying that you require a certain level of cleanliness and comfort shows that you do not know anything about India. Sleeperclass is India in a nutshell, it makes you a visitor in this wonderful country. Not a spectator just passing throu. Sure, sometimes it's a pain in the ass if there's 20 people who wants to talk with you and you just wants to sleep. but hey, this is India. But hey, that's India.

Very good Guide steven_ber. And I can't wait to be back in India, sitting by the door att sundown, getting flies and mosqitos in my face.

Or then maybe some just have different standards than you. You'll find it so on this board.

Which you are hereby welcomed to, btw

There are so many variables to what class to choose. The distance, the weather, your budget, the level of comfort/standard/privacy wanted, the age and agility of the traveller and on and on. I can only suggest to try them all! If you are unsure and have the means, you can book one of the ACs and check out the sleeper class.

Totally agree, Casey. And because a foreigner is travelling in one of the other classes e.g. 1A, 2AC, etc.does not necessarily mean they don't know the 'real' India.

I always bring a dhoti with me for train rides -- good for a sheet, good to use to wrap myself in if I get cold....

great thread, steve!

although my fave is FC non-AC -- which you say they are phasing out?

Terrific thread, Steven! Wow! so much information! This will be a great help for anyone interested in train travel in India.

I dont travel much in sleeper class nowadays, but I have very fond memories of 48+ hour trips years back - used to do it at least twice a year ( was working in Gujarat at that time ).

After reaching home after such a journey, anyone could smell from a mile away that you have just done a long train trip

Oh and there were those long periods in those trips when there was no water in the compartments.

Indian railways have improved quite a lot from those days I guess. At least the carriages look cleaner.

That's a really great post Steven, just discovered it now.

In 5 months I only ever travelled in Sleeper Class, except those '2nd class unreserved' day-time trips. Actually, I did do one overnight journey in unreserved, and spent the entire journey from Madurai to Chennai with my knees under my chin surrounded by masses of people (many of them sitting/sleeping on the luggage racks).

But anyway, I've walked through the other classes at times, but never felt the urge to spend the extra money on them. I think you've covered just about everything there, regarding the pros and cons. And the best thing about sleeper-class, like you say, is the people you meet, not just fellow passengers, but the endless procession of chai-wallahs, hijras, beggers, musicians, etc, that waltz down the aisle all day.