The Great Circular Indian Railway Challenge

So if you have a shengen uniform multiple entry then it's valid for Croatia I'm, told.
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/disc...p=1&l=0&pl=395

Thanks Mark for that clarification. I saw the link you posted.

I think I will need multiple-entry Visa (or atleast a 2-entry Visa) for Schengen and ALL non-schengen countries in the itinerary; valid for a period of 1st to 31st July 2013.

My query has been sent to a travel agent here in Mumbai, who has now forwarded it a Visa Processing Agent in Delhi. So I expect to get some answers and cost estimates in a 3-4 days time. Maybe earlier if we get lucky.
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Dear KS, I have replied to you on FB in detail.I have noted your numbers and shall call you soon.

Meanwhile regarding the muliple entry Schengen visa, i spoke to my travel agent and he informed me that to obtain a multiple entry schengen visa you have to travel on this visa once and the next time they will consider.

I already had a single entry schengen visa last year but i didn't travel. I have plans to travel to Europe in october and then i can apply for multiple entry Schengen visa i guess,thats what my trvale agent says

Just a thought ...Can we apply for a schengen visa based on GCERC letter head issued by Mark and request them for a multiple entry visa for this amazing tour of ours!! i really doesn't know if this works.At the same time i don't want to burden mark with unnecessary concerns.... but just an idea.

Regarding 2-entry or multiple entry visa for other non-Schengen countries, i await for your feed back from your travel agent.Meanwhile i will also post our GCERC itinerary to my travel agent in Dubai and find out visa procedures and costs involved.

@R-Bob: re:Visa, lets gather all basic info first and then see what we need as 'documentation' to support Visa Applications. We will be very lucky if we can get the Visa(s) before booking all the Rail tickets, i.e. with just the Itinerary and maybe a letter from Mark accepting us for the Tour. Too early to comment or worry. Meanwhile lets just enjoy the planning and the dreaming!

@Mark: See what I said about you here
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thank you.

There is a voyage all of it's own in researching this in a way which simply wasn't possible more than 10 years ago.
This length of trip isn't unique, Shankar for instance told me that he had actually issued a ticket to someone with an even more impressive schedule than GCIRC, though we're only aware of one other person to do our trip, our test pilot.

What is unique I believe is getting a dozen and a half people to do this, and that forces a level of investigation that just doesnt happen on most of these superlative train trips that I regularly read about.
Sticking up some self aggrandising blog 2 years advance is all part of that.

KS ji, I understand its not that straight forward considering the multiple entry and 2 entry visas and related issues involved. I agree with you and lets take it step by step.

I also completely agree with you and Mark that there is a lot of fun and enjoyment planning ,imagining and dreaming. The journey is more important than the destination.. i guess!!

For my GCERC Visa Query, my Travel Agent has come with the answer as copied below:

*********
General Requirement

1. Original Passport valid for more than 6 months from the date of travel
2. 8 Photographs of 35 x 45 mm on white background with Matt finish (80% covering the face)
3. Personal Bank Statement with sound balance for last 6 months, with Original stamp and signed from the Bank
4. Personal Income Tax returns of last 3 years
5. Overseas Travel Insurance
6. Confirmed Return Air Ticket
7. Confirmed Hotel / Package Confirmation
8. Copy of International Credit Card along with latest Credit Card statement

Special Requirement

For Romania
1. Authority Letter on personal Letter Head authorizing agent to apply and collect visa from the Consulate
2. Leave Letter from Employer in case employed
3. Processing Time: 10 working days

For Bulgaria
1. Valid Schengen Visa is allowed for entry in Bulgaria

For Serbia
1. Processing time 4 working days

For Croatia
1. Re entry visa allowed for Croatia by paying extra fees of Rs. 1500

**************

After I got above reply by email, I talked to him and confirmed that I can get Schengen and UK Multiple-Entry Visas, Bulgaria (is included in Schengen), Romania and Serbia Single entry visas and Croatia multi-entry. I need to assimilate this data and then confirm independently if the entire GCERC route is covered with above.

We need to start the Visa application from here, about 3 months in advance; that is say around April-2013.

He suggested getting a Letter from the Travel Agent mentioning the detailed Tour Itinerary and Schedule and with my Name and Passport Number mentioned as one of the Tour Member.

I asked, if I need to submit the booked Train Tickets for the Visa application? He thinks just the Letter as above should be enough.

The Total Visa Costs is estimated around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000

From the talk I had with him, I got the impression that getting the Visa for the GCERC Tour, will not be a problem
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your suggestions seem to be showing interesting results. I was wondering how on earth did a Scotsman know of this song's relevance.
Dave W (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyqWsk-owzU&feature=plcp )

Looks like I am the only Indian on this 'crazy' GCERC rail tour by Mark Lester:
http://gcerc.wordpress.com/2012/09/1...st-train-trip/



The Route details and Trains are:
http://gcerc.wordpress.com/route/

And more details here:
http://gcerc.wordpress.com/2012/09/2...rande-vitesse/
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But not the only India Miker

True! ... look forward to this awesome rail journey with a hardcore railfan like you, Dave W.

I get 2 weeks to travel with an India Miker ... and a Moderator to boot
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Mark_Lester and Scousermick still pop up now and again on the Chai and Choo Choos thread so there will be four of us.

Jason, Johnny and Stoytcho, all GCIRCers, are on the train. So with KS and Mick that's almost half the team are insane enough to do this when they already know what this entails. Not least, 2 weeks on a train with me ordering you about.
Anyone disembarking from the train without my permission will regret it....

Damn it! My trips to do list keeps increasing and time and money keeps decreasing.

Mark I seem to remember something about a trip around new York that you posted about? What ever happened to it.... I'm hoping to visit newyork sometime next year.

Project Konigsberg is currently on the shelf. We havent really got much beyond pahse one of just sizing the problem up. It's very much a rail nutters idea, quite doable on your own, but you'd need to be that way inclined.
http://projectkonigsberg.wordpress.com/about/