Sleeper Trains

Hi,

Ive been given some very good advice regarding using sleeper trains to cut down the cost of travel and accommodation.

Does anyone have any information on sleeper train journeys, routes and prices. If so I would really appreciate it.

thanks

See Train information

and the IndiaMike Train Information thread

The official website of Indian Railways:
www.indianrail.gov.in

I appreciate it, Im sorry as the information is on the forum and I didnt look hard enough

thanks again

Remember to get a good lock for your bag and also a cycle cable or something similar that you can use to secure your bag under the seat when you sleep. This will allow you to get a good night's sleep without fear of it being stolen.

Hi Dreamer!

What do you think a 'good lock' is? Probably best to get a combination lock, but now I'm wondering how large it has to be. Are the ones that are sold at travel stores good enough? Or perhaps the round ones that are used for lockers at schools? I'm not sure if you would know what a locker is... but thought I'd use the example just in case!

Thanks

Hi Mangrove

I don't think the lock for your bag has to be huge, just a good quality combination lock. Don't buy a super cheap one like I did though, couldn't get the darned thing undone again! The main thing is to stop someone stealing your bag in the first place. Mind you mine is normally way in excess of 25kg so any prospective thief would regret nicking it!

I have a metal cable that is covered in plastic and has a good lock on it. I think it was designed to lock up bicycles when you leave them. This way you can loop it through your (locked) bags and through the metal ties under the seats on the train. At night I loop my locked day rucksack through it too and sleep with by handbag next to my head! Remember to chain your rucksack up when you go to the toilet as well if you are travelling alone. A smaller bag like that is more likey to get swiped than a gigantic case! Might seem a bit over the top but it is batter to be safe than sorry.

I use a very light, very thin chain, like the one used to 'pull the chain' in toilets, I also use very small, very cheap locks, both of these are available very cheaply at most train stations.

They act as a deterrent to a passing opportunist thief.

If a professional thief wants your bag, they'll get it no matter what you use.

There is far more chance of theft in the stations and as you board the trains.

Distraction theft is the biggest worry, where someone distracts you and a colleague helps himself to your luggage.

Likewise, when you enter your carriage it can be chaotic, people everywhere saying "hello", "goodbye", "that’s my berth", luggage everywhere, people everywhere, I thief knows how to take advantage of this situation.

Either way, get to the station early, relax and follow the same basic rules you follow in your own country and you'll be OK.

If I saw someone using expensive locks and chains and constantly looking at their luggage, I'd think they had something worth stealing.

You'll find that most people who've been to India many times, use a simple lock and chain and then just forget about their luggage, it's always there at the end of your journey.

And don't forget the best security there is, all the locals in your train carriage, they won't let someone take your bags, so think of them as your security, not as potential thieves.

If you get a combination lock, make sure you keep your torch handy in case you need to get into it in the dark. In fact, if you can't read the combination without reading glasses, you're better off without a combination lock.

But then, of course, small keys can be lost... Oh well, in a perfect world we wouldn't need it in the first place

I second Steven (which is a bit of a cheek, as he has many more thousands of India Rail Miles under his belt than me ) --- light chain and a small lock. Maybe not so light a lock that it will pull open at a yank (many of those mini suitcase locks will) but not heavyweight.

Try to travel express or mail train rather than the ordinary passenger train (no pantry car, no bedding and nearly always late) Watch out for mice - one accompanied us all the way from Kota to Amritser! Apart from that we've never had problems.