train from Delhi to Agra--book ahead?

EmpressGinger · May 26th, 2009, 04:46

If I want to take a train to Agra one morning of my trip from new Delhi and back later that afternoon...can I book that there in person, or thru the hotel travel desk the day before or a couple of days before...or do I have to book it online in advance?

I looked at the railroad website and can't make heads or tails of it...I'd rather handle it there in person or even better let my hotel travel desk book it for me..but is that doable just a day or two in advance?

Blessings,
Ginger

steven_ber · May 26th, 2009, 05:01

Leaving it late is risky, and you may not get the trains of your choice, and it's all about availability, a travel desk can do little to help you there.

And do remember, all but 2 late evening trains from Agra are long distance train, some may have been travelling for 48 hours before they reach Agra, so they could be a few hours late.

Ginger, if I remember right, you're organising a trip for a group of people, hiring some kind of vehicle (appropriate to the size of the group) will give you ultimate flexibility, journey time to Agra should be just over 3 hours each way.

EmpressGinger · May 26th, 2009, 05:27

yes Steven, me and my 3 young daughters... thank you...I am also considering just hiring a driver to take us to Agra that day, I just hate to be stuck in a car for hours...is the train not much quicker?

Also we will be going to Jaipur later in our trip...and I had heard that was 5 hours by train or car...but on that trip we'll be staying overnight there for a couple of nights...so leaning towards a car for that trip...as it doesn't seem to make much difference in travel time.

Kinda would just rather do it all by car and driver really...but exploring the options...ya know. Thanks for your advice.

Blessings,
Ginger

RPG · May 26th, 2009, 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressGinger

...is the train not much quicker?

The fastest train is much quicker, but you won't get a seat on it at the last minute. And as Steven has pointed out, on the way back, most trains do not originate at Agra and so may be late. For a long-distance train, a few hours late is nothing, but if you are traveling a short distance, it is a huge disruption for you.

Certainly a train is more comfortable, but in your case, Steven has given the right advice (as always).

LilBoy BigTown · May 26th, 2009, 06:14

From my experience, booking a few days ahead for Shatabdi Express to & from Agra is fine.

But I haven't been on that train for atleast 3 years, so perhaps it is a lot busier these days. The train ride is certainly more comfortable, but a car and driver gives you flexibility and access to other places of interest (Fatehpur Sikri) that you won't get in a train.

abhijitbanerjee · May 26th, 2009, 14:56

Another train worth considering is the Taj Express - for both to and forth journey... Otherwise, there are innumerable superfast trains between Delhi and Agra.

EmpressGinger · May 27th, 2009, 00:47

thanks for all the train info...sounds like it will be simpler if not cheaper and not faster to just hire a car and driver.

Think we'll just go by car, to Agra.

Jaipur is a long way either by car or train and it is later in our trip so we could book it there, when we first arrive several days in advance, if we needed to...so I think I'll just see if the hotel travel desks suggests and helps me book that on a train or wants to send us even that far by car...

But in both cases I get out of trying to figure out that railroad website ahead of time from here in the states...

Thanks,
Blessings
Ginger

OceanTragic · May 27th, 2009, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressGinger

thanks for all the train info...sounds like it will be simpler if not cheaper and not faster to just hire a car and driver.

Think we'll just go by car, to Agra.

Jaipur is a long way either by car or train and it is later in our trip so we could book it there, when we first arrive several days in advance, if we needed to...so I think I'll just see if the hotel travel desks suggests and helps me book that on a train or wants to send us even that far by car...

If you're doing the trip to Agra, by train or car and also a couple of nights in Jaipur have you thought about going from Agra to Jaipur?

I think the travel time from Agra to Jaipur is about 4 hours by car. En-route is the wonderful Fatehpur Sikri but I'm not sure you'll be interested in this.

Effectively this will cut out one of four 4/5 hour trips.

hitanshu · May 27th, 2009, 01:46

hmm - kindly try www.cleartrip.com/trains

if THAT doesn't cut it for you - then the hotel travel desk is your only savior.

ScarletLSG · May 27th, 2009, 01:59

[quote=EmpressGinger;734639]thanks for all the train info...sounds like it will be simpler if not cheaper and not faster to just hire a car and driver.

Think we'll just go by car, to Agra.

Ginger,

If you can work out going from New Delhi to Agra to Jaipur, car is an excellent way to go. I did this route in December 2007 and enjoyed the ride ... especially being able to stop and see anything I'd like along the way. It was fun ... traffic was dicey for the driver, but made it an adventure.

ScarletLSG

Indizen · May 27th, 2009, 02:10

Car and driver, if you don't want to plan too much too soon

EmpressGinger · May 27th, 2009, 02:38

there are three days between the day we plan to go to Agra and the weekend we plan to spend in Jaipur so that won't work for us to go from Agra to Jaipur no...in both cases well be going form Delhi...well new Delhi area I believe if I book the hotel we have so far been thinking to.

Thanks for the info

blessings
Ginger

steven_ber · May 27th, 2009, 03:00

How long will you be in India before you plan to go to Agra?

EmpressGinger · May 27th, 2009, 03:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

How long will you be in India before you plan to go to Agra?

We plan to do that either our first or second day there ...so we land Monday afternoon...we plan to go to Agra Tuesday or Wednesday....I think the Taj mahal is closed one day a week, but it's monday isn't it...so either tues. or wed. just depending.

Does it matter? I mean is one busier than the other or something?

Blessings
Ginger

steven_ber · May 27th, 2009, 03:17

There's also Foreign Tourist Quota tickets, but they can only be booked in India, and you've got no chance of availability just a couple of days ahead, but maybe there will be for your Jaipur trip.

You book the FTQ tickets from the Foreign Tourist reservation centre on the first floor above the main entrance to New Delhi station, and you ignore anyone who tries to lead you anywhere else with storied of burnt down offices, or Donald Duck staging a sit-in, just walk straight to the office, step over the burnt embers and kick Donald Duck out.

May 26th, 2009, 04:46	#1
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	train from Delhi to Agra--book ahead? If I want to take a train to Agra one morning of my trip from new Delhi and back later that afternoon...can I book that there in person, or thru the hotel travel desk the day before or a couple of days before...or do I have to book it online in advance? I looked at the railroad website and can't make heads or tails of it...I'd rather handle it there in person or even better let my hotel travel desk book it for me..but is that doable just a day or two in advance? Blessings, Ginger

May 26th, 2009, 05:01	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,575	Leaving it late is risky, and you may not get the trains of your choice, and it's all about availability, a travel desk can do little to help you there. And do remember, all but 2 late evening trains from Agra are long distance train, some may have been travelling for 48 hours before they reach Agra, so they could be a few hours late. Ginger, if I remember right, you're organising a trip for a group of people, hiring some kind of vehicle (appropriate to the size of the group) will give you ultimate flexibility, journey time to Agra should be just over 3 hours each way. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

May 27th, 2009, 01:46	#9
hitanshu Renegade Killer Bee Join Date: May 2006 Location: Out of coverage area! Posts: 880	hmm - kindly try www.cleartrip.com/trains if THAT doesn't cut it for you - then the hotel travel desk is your only savior. __________________ SMASH!!!!

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May 26th, 2009, 05:27	#3
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	yes Steven, me and my 3 young daughters... thank you...I am also considering just hiring a driver to take us to Agra that day, I just hate to be stuck in a car for hours...is the train not much quicker? Also we will be going to Jaipur later in our trip...and I had heard that was 5 hours by train or car...but on that trip we'll be staying overnight there for a couple of nights...so leaning towards a car for that trip...as it doesn't seem to make much difference in travel time. Kinda would just rather do it all by car and driver really...but exploring the options...ya know. Thanks for your advice. Blessings, Ginger

May 26th, 2009, 06:14	#5
LilBoy BigTown Visionary Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 636	From my experience, booking a few days ahead for Shatabdi Express to & from Agra is fine. But I haven't been on that train for atleast 3 years, so perhaps it is a lot busier these days. The train ride is certainly more comfortable, but a car and driver gives you flexibility and access to other places of interest (Fatehpur Sikri) that you won't get in a train.

May 26th, 2009, 14:56	#6
abhijitbanerjee Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Noida Posts: 48	Another train worth considering is the Taj Express - for both to and forth journey... Otherwise, there are innumerable superfast trains between Delhi and Agra.

May 27th, 2009, 00:47	#7
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	thanks for all the train info...sounds like it will be simpler if not cheaper and not faster to just hire a car and driver. Think we'll just go by car, to Agra. Jaipur is a long way either by car or train and it is later in our trip so we could book it there, when we first arrive several days in advance, if we needed to...so I think I'll just see if the hotel travel desks suggests and helps me book that on a train or wants to send us even that far by car... But in both cases I get out of trying to figure out that railroad website ahead of time from here in the states... Thanks, Blessings Ginger

May 27th, 2009, 01:59	#10
ScarletLSG Maharani Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kailua, Hawaii Posts: 186	[quote=EmpressGinger;734639]thanks for all the train info...sounds like it will be simpler if not cheaper and not faster to just hire a car and driver. Think we'll just go by car, to Agra. Ginger, If you can work out going from New Delhi to Agra to Jaipur, car is an excellent way to go. I did this route in December 2007 and enjoyed the ride ... especially being able to stop and see anything I'd like along the way. It was fun ... traffic was dicey for the driver, but made it an adventure. ScarletLSG

May 27th, 2009, 02:10	#11
Indizen Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 2,507	Car and driver, if you don't want to plan too much too soon

May 27th, 2009, 02:38	#12
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	there are three days between the day we plan to go to Agra and the weekend we plan to spend in Jaipur so that won't work for us to go from Agra to Jaipur no...in both cases well be going form Delhi...well new Delhi area I believe if I book the hotel we have so far been thinking to. Thanks for the info blessings Ginger

May 27th, 2009, 03:00	#13
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,575	How long will you be in India before you plan to go to Agra?

May 27th, 2009, 03:17	#15
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,575	There's also Foreign Tourist Quota tickets, but they can only be booked in India, and you've got no chance of availability just a couple of days ahead, but maybe there will be for your Jaipur trip. You book the FTQ tickets from the Foreign Tourist reservation centre on the first floor above the main entrance to New Delhi station, and you ignore anyone who tries to lead you anywhere else with storied of burnt down offices, or Donald Duck staging a sit-in, just walk straight to the office, step over the burnt embers and kick Donald Duck out.