ticket availability issues/questions!

suiko

OK... I've booked 3AC side berths Gwalior - Indore for the 28th. Hope that's OK. Unfortunately I can't print here, and haven't yet received a confirmation email, so hopefully that's OK, as I have no record of it!

Now working on Punjab Mail . Only 3AC is available - are 2 lower berths in main compartment in 3AC (no 2AC available) a good option?

wabat

Probably but remember you set that as a preference .. no guarantee you will get it ..

How about the side berths - on most trains even in 3AC there only two levels ....but again you can ask no guarantee.

steven_ber

A couple of quick questions. (My internet connection is more off than on today)

Gwalior to Indore, are you boarding the train at Gwalior? (you have to if you book from there)

Lower berth, what is your age? I'm wondering if you've noticed the lower berth quota, this quota has age restrictions. (I cant remember seeing any availability in 3A on the general quota, but I didn't check the LBQ)

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suiko

I've just discovered that I appear to have booked already from Mumbai to Vidisha - must have been yesterday when my connection cut out! - and it has been dispatched. There is a cancellation option on the site, it seems - is this possible and how does it work? Or would it be better to go with First instead of 3AC (it's about Rs1000 difference, which isn't the end of the world. This is our longest journey, and the only one with significant daylight hours, so I suppose it would be good to be comfortable.

I'm 44 and my gf is 32 - is that a problem?

I booked the side berths (not main compartment) on the Gwalior - Indore train, but then read again about the leg room issue Yes, as Gwalior is near Jhansi anyway, I figured this would be the best way (same train as the Shivpuri one you suggested, and we could have a look at Gwalior fort too).

Btw, these are the only tickets I'm thinking of buying. I figured for other shorter train trips (Vidisha-Jhansi, Jhansi-Gwalior, Bangalore-Mysore, along Konkan coast of Kerala/Karnataka etc), we can just turn up and buy them on the day? True?

steven_ber

Leg room is mainly an issue in Sleeper Class side berths, the usable length of a 3A side berth is 180cms, but there's a solid seperator at either end, so if you're 6 feet tall and have to stretch out fully when sleeping (making yourself even longer by extending your toes), you may want to consider a higher class.

I've always felt comfortable in 3A side berths and I'm 5'11.

It's easy to cancel tickets on the IRCTC website, and the cancellation charges are minimal, just follow the instructions on the website, however, NEVER cancel a ticket till you have confirmed tickets in an alternative class or an alternative train.

Vidisha-Jhansi may be a problem, and as you already are quite sure of your journey date, you may be better booking in advance.

Jhansi-Gwalior shouldn't be a problem, there's a large quota on trains 2001 (dep 17:56 arr 19.00) and 2279 (dep 15.20 arr 16:50), (2S will be fine on 2279), even if you can't get a last minute ticket, you can use an unreserved carriage (can be crowded, but it's a very short journey and it's certainly interesting to see how many Indians have to travel, may be a little uncomfortable, but will be the star story at many dinner tables in the future.

Or just get a taxi.

Bangalore-Mysore won't be a problem.

Konkan coast is OK south of Mangalore (travelling south, where I think it's called the Malabar coast), but choose trains that start from Mangalore or stations further south, the trains that come from further north will be very difficult to book.

suiko

Thanks. I understood from the sticky posts at the top of this forum (the booking from abroad one, I think) that cancellation couldn't be done online, only in person.

What are the advantages of First over 3 Ac for the long trip, would you say?

For the Konkan, I was thinking particularly of Kannur - Udupi and Udupi - either Gokarna or Margao. Might also get on Margao-Mumbai train at Sarasvati Rd (if we go decide to go to Vengurla), but I think we can change boarding point of this at Margao or Sarasvati station, no?

steven_ber

The 'booking from abroad' thread was written before E-Tickets were established (they were still only available on a few trains in those dark days).

An I-Ticket is sent to an address in India, so the ticket has to be cancelled at a reservation counter.

An E-Ticket (the kind you are buying) can be cancelled online.

1A Vs 3A....

You're asking the wrong person, I'm a pheasant really and if given the choice of a free ticket in any class, I'd chose 3A or SL over 1A every time, I just don't like 1A.

It's damn cold in 1A, much colder than 2A or 3A, and although it's a temperature you get used to (and will then find pleasant), the difference in cabin/coupe temperature, and that outside the cabin/coupe is vast and in my opinion, unhealthy, this is one of the main reasons I dislike 1A as I like to go for regular walks on the train, either for a cigarette or to sit by the open carriage door to watch the world go by (without the fixed window and air con).

The other reason I don't like 1A is the fellow travellers, If you're well educated, and knowledgeable in world affairs or Indian history, you'll likely have a very enjoyable journey chatting to those in 1A, I'm not, and find I've just nothing in common with those in 1A.

I'm only giving my opinion, and most people enjoy 1A, the main advantages are space, perceived security and privacy, especially if you are given a 2 berth coupe instead of a 4 berth cabin (You can't choose and wont find out till a few hours before your train departs).

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You're going to struggle to find availability from Kannur to Udupi, but Udupi to Gokarna/Goa will be easier, but you'll likely have to use 2S (bookable 2nd class non air con seat) on train KR1 (or is it KR2), but this is a lot better than it sounds, the train isn't that busy, and the views are great.

Consider dropping into Murudeshwar for a day or 2, it's a great place rarely visited by foreign tourists, and also a good place to get a taxi to Jog Falls, the taxi will wait a few hours, then take you back to Murudeshwar.

Below is a photo taken in Murudeshwar, scroll down below the photo and read my comments below.

http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...2612/ppuser/40

Madgaon/Sawantwadi Road to Mumbai tickets will need to be booked well in advance, and you can't then change your boarding station afterwards, this rule changed a few years ago as people were using the rule to get around quota restrictions.

suiko

I hate air con normally, especially in winter in somewhere like N India where it gets a bit chilly at night. I like to be near to outside temperature, if possible 20 degrees or so at all times. That's why I can never get used to livng in England anymore

My 1st class ticket (like the others I've booked) on the Punjab Mail is an i-ticket. I understood that only an i-ticket could be booked more than a few days before. Another notch on the learning curve, ho hum...

Don't mind the educated passengers, that's cool. After all,we won't be taking 1st class again, I imagine. Cold temperatures is another matter - do they supply extra blankets (probably two for me and six, OK eight , for my gf)?

Maybe we should book Kannur-Udupi, but I'm not so keen as I'd like to leave this part of the trip less planned. I kind of have the idea of having 10 days to go from It isn't so far, only 3 hrs or so - is it not going to be possible to travel unreserved 2nd class?

So we can't change the boarding place for Margao-Mumbai? That is a drag.

Murudeshwar looks great - will have to look this place up