Train fares.

Thank you steven for the information. The breakjourney information on CJT will help me immensly. I will consider it using it to squeeze in few more destinations. There are lot of destinatins which can be covered within few hours and then a board a connecting train.
one more query - suppose I travel from Bhubneshwar(7am) to BERHAMPUR (9.30am) and again board 5228 mfr gyr exp(15.15 pm), can I book Sleeper class accomodation for both the legs without it being considered as break journey. If not what is other option

Dear Kanishk,
The B/J information was given by me. :-)

Thanx VSP
Can you help me out with my other query. I will be grateful (Bhubneshwar -BERHAMPUR ).

Dear Kanishk,
Your observation:-
""one more query - suppose I travel from Bhubneshwar(7am) to BERHAMPUR (9.30am) and again board 5228 mfr gyr exp(15.15 pm), can I book Sleeper class accomodation for both the legs without it being considered as break journey. If not what is other option""
-----------------
@@@First of all don't rely on 5-series trains, else your programme itself will get jeopardised.
-----
@@@The distance from Bhubaneshwar to Berhampur is 443 minus 277 = 166 Kms. Number of trains will be there. The best train is 7015 Visakha Express -
Dep/BBS/7.25 hrs..........Arr/BAM/10.10 hrs.
-----
@@@If you are travelling alone, I advise you 1020 Konark Express from Berhampur (17.30/40) to Vijayawada (Arr/5.00) and thereafter by 2711 Pinakini Express. BZA/Dep/6.00.............Chennai/Arr/13.00 hrs.
=====================
If you are particular to travel by 5228 alone, then please book your ticket by from Bhubaneswar to Chennai Central in the first instance. 24 Hours before the scheduled departure of the train, please approach the Chief Reservation Supervisor in Bhubaneswar and request him to make Bd.Pt Endorsement in your Ticket, stating that you had to move to Berhampur and that you will bhoard the train Berhampur. Normally, this kind of requests are accepted. (***No refund will be granted for the untravelled portion).
=================
Please check the availability from Bhubaneswar to Madras and Berhampur to Madras by 5228 passing through BBS/BAM on Tuesdays and if there is no difference, you can as well book your ticket from BAM to MAS.

Dear Kanishk,
Please see this:-
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
5228 MFP YPR EXP 30-8-2005 BERHAMPUR CHENNAI CENTRAL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL
1 30- 8-2005 AVAILABLE- 0015

2 6- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0055

3 13- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0079

4 20- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0073

5 27- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093

6 4-10-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093
============================== ==
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
5228 MFP YPR EXP 30-8-2005 BHUBANESWAR CHENNAI CENTRAL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL
1 30- 8-2005 AVAILABLE- 0015

2 6- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0055

3 13- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0079

4 20- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0073

5 27- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093

6 4-10-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093
============================== ==
Please note, there is no difference between these Two Bookings.
=================
But, from Howrah to Chennai, the following is the position:-
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
5228 MFP YPR EXP 30-8-2005 HOWRAH JN CHENNAI CENTRAL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL
1 30- 8-2005 WL 102/WL 46

2 6- 9-2005 WL 43/WL 20

3 13- 9-2005 WL 21/WL 4

4 20- 9-2005 RAC 5/RAC 1

5 27- 9-2005 WL 4/RAC 14

6 4-10-2005 AVAILABLE- 0040
=======================
.......................and even from Visakhapatnam, there is no difference:-
Accomodation Availability Enquiry
You Queried For Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
5228 MFP YPR EXP 30-8-2005 VISHAKAPATNAM CHENNAI CENTRAL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL
1 30- 8-2005 AVAILABLE- 0015

2 6- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0055

3 13- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0079

4 20- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0073

5 27- 9-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093

6 4-10-2005 AVAILABLE- 0093
============================== ===
This means, the passengers from Bhubaneswar/Khurda Road/Berhampur/Palasa/ Srikakulam Road/Vizianagaram/Visakhapatnam are placed in the same quota.
============================== ==============================

THANKS VSP but i am very poor at understanding indian raiway rules. Perhaps being Guru of IR rules pls. again clarify your observation.

"please approach the Chief Reservation Supervisor in Bhubaneswar and request him to make Bd.Pt Endorsement in your Ticket, stating that you had to move to Berhampur and that you will bhoard the train Berhampur. Normally, this kind of requests are accepted. (***No refund will be granted for the untravelled portion)."


If I book a ticket from BBS TO MAS by 5228 spefying in boarding at coloumn of reservation form -Berhampur(displayed part of reservation form below).
1. Do I still have to get the endorsment of station master.
2. Can i travel on same CJT from from BBS TO BAS by 7015 (7.25 -10.10) or do I have to buy fresh ticket (catch 5228 same day at 15.15).


RESERVATION/CANCELLATION REQUISITION FORM

Train No & Name ___________________
Date ofjourney_____________________ _
Class ___________ No of Berth/Seat_______
Station from _Bhubneshwar__ To Chennai_[/B]
Boarding at _____Berhampur Reservation upto .

Dear Kanishk,
While applying for CJT, you have to indicate (i) The Route which you propose to take (ii) The Places (**8 Places) at which you propose to Break the Journey.
--------------
The Bd.Pt.Facility is extended to those who make initial reservation from A to C and subsequently desire to board the train at Station B.
-----
It is a fact that there is a Column ""Boarding at"" in the Reservation Form.
---------
In the instant case both Bhubaneswar and Berhampur fall in the same ""Quota", as explained already, and hence there is no much difference whether you make the booking from BBS or BAM by 5228.
---------
But there are certain cases where the Quota at Station A will be more when compared to Station B. Hence passengers will avail Bd.Pt.Facility in such cases to have CFD.Status.
----------
Another problem is that: If you purchase ticket from BBS to MAS by 5228 (**here ofcourse it is CJT) with RESV. from BAM to MAS, you have to necessarily travel by 5228 only even from BBS to BAM and your purpose would not get served.
-----------
Hence, It would be fine if you can make your reservation by 5228 ex. BAM to MAS ande travel by 7015 from BBS to BAM in the Sleepr Class.
===============
Any more questions are welcome.

Thankyou Vsp for kind help. perhaps I am beginning to comprehend a bit of IR rules(or so I believe).

Plan to travel on a Circular journey ticket (CJT).

New Delhi-..................Ooty-Mysore...................

You had mentioned earlier
"Perhaps, you can take a special permission to perform journey by road
from Ooty to Mysore so that you can save lot of time."


1. Is it possible to get special permission from railways to travel Ooty -
Mysore by bus as the road distance is quite less.

2. If yes will the rail distance between Ooty- mysore be Charged as part of
CJT and

3. Will Mysore be counted as part of eight break journeys permissible on
Circular journey ticket.

vsp27759

I've always admired Indian people for their knowledge of the most complex things, but your knowledge of Indian Railway's rules takes it to a new level.


KANISHK

I'm not sure how I can help you, some of the things you're asking go way outside of my knowledge of Indian Railways and far beyond anything that would ever be useful to a foreign tourist.

Ooty - Mysore ....... Southern Railways used to have this section in one of it's 'set' circular journey routes, though for some reason they dropped this route about 2 years ago, If I remember rightly the Ooty - Mysore part was one of the legs of the CJT, so that would involve a BOJ at both Ooty and Mysore.

vsp27759 advised you to avoid trains beginning with the number 5, this is because these trains originate in North East India and are notoriously late, I remember reading about some trains being regularly more than a day late, so you are best to remember this when choosing your trains.

Rameswaram - Kanniyakumari ...... this section could be interesting, you will have to get 3 trains because Rameswaram - Manamadurai is metre gauge, then Manamadurai - Viridunagar is closed for gauge conversion, and Manamadurai - Madurai is broad gauge, so you will have to go Rameswaram - Manamadurai - Madurai - Kanniyakumari (though this could all be arranged as only one leg of your CJT and if done correctly it could give you at least half a day in Madurai to have a look around.

So, what have we got so far....(I wont bother with trains as you know how to find them)

Delhi - Bhubaneshwar (Kms = 1896)(direct)
Bhubaneshwar - Chennai (1223) (via Berhampur)
Chennai - Rameswaram (617)(direct)
Rameswaram - Kanniyakumari (402)(via Manamadurai and Madurai)
Kanniyakumari - Cochin (307)(direct)
Cochin - Ooty (356) (via Coimbatore or Podanur, then Mettupalaiyam (Mettupalaiyam to Ooty is charged at Kms114 instead of the actual distance of Kms 46)
Ooty - Mysore (0) (Must be zero, as train not used)
Mysore - Hubli (608)(direct)
Hubli - Delhi (2151)(direct)



I have included Hubli, there is an overnight train from Mysore to Hubli, from there you can make your way to Hampi, there is then a direct train to Delhi from Hubli (it joins the Goa express at Londa), to use the last BOJ at Hospet would involve 2 trains from Mysore and then 2 trains to Delhi and I think your CJT is going to be complex enough without adding them 2 extra trains at the end.

Total Kms = 7560 divided by 2 = 3780

3780 in SL costs Rs 605 x 2 = Rs1210 + 13 x Rs20 reservation charge = 1470 + 2 x Rs 20 safety surcharge (if it still applies) = Rs 1510

So total cost for your CJT should be Rs 1510, you would be allowed up to 56 days to complete your journeys.

Hmm 28 Euros to see half of South India and then some in two months folks... Enticing isn't it.

Yes however, you try booking this CJT, If it could be booked within half a day that would be good going.

A day or two spent at the train office on 56 days... I can live with that Could probably be fun working it all out with the clerk even! Seriously, am I right in understanding that there are no limitations to foreign tourists making use of this? Sorry if I'm asking the obvious but I sort of lost track in so many lengthy posts. Referring back to your first post on this thread it's quite clearly explained there really, great job. It would be interesting to calculate what I spent just travelling all over some years back, but I understand how this would be the cheaper deal. If anything it seems like train fares have increased quite a bit, still incredibly cheap though for any western visitor (shhh... don't let them increase it god forbid). And such fun!

nb What I didn't really get is how with this itinerary you seem to have circumvented the apparent state restrictions on CJT's, that is as far as I could follow from some previous posts I was under the impression you can't book one from say Delhi for just any route in India... what am I missing here? Are all these routes served by the same trains sector/company/what's the right word?

With CJT's, you book (and reserve) all your journeys in one go, but they must start and finnish in the same city, the city where your booking your CJT.

Dear All.

My experience of booking CJT has not been that difficult.

I had traveled a part of north using CJT few months back from New Delhi (non Standard). It was cleared without any hassle.
There is a special Counter at New Delhi Railway station reservation office. (It is probably very close to entrance) for booking. CJT They will calculate the distance and take payment. Then there on the adjacent counter you can make your berth reservations. The whole process took me two hours (mainly standing in queue on two counters and not on arguing with booking clerk)

Thak you Vsp and thanks Stevan for the valuable information. Thanks again.