train from Delhi to Agra--book ahead?

EmpressGinger · May 27th, 2009, 03:19

ROFL, got it..step over the burnt embers and kick Donald Duck..I can do that!

Blessings,
Ginger

OceanTragic · May 27th, 2009, 03:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressGinger

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.

Nope, it's Friday

http://www.up-tourism.com/destinatio...o.htm#interest

If you can see it when the light is changing rapidly, e.g. sunrise or sunset. May be difficult on a day trip but worth trying.

Shivani Skydancer · Aug 9th, 2009, 14:06

Help!!

I also can't come to grips with the indianrail.gov.in website. It's never working properly!! I either keep getting this error message:
"You must SUBMIT the Enquiry form. Phase 1 GET. Error
FAILED IN CHK ENV 0"
Or else, it says "The Dates given were outside ARP"

I wanted to book 2 return tickets (e-tickets, as I'm in Australia) from Delhi to Agra on 8 November. It looks like the Taj Express would be a good fast one to go. And returning the next day on Gondwana Express.

Maybe one can only book 30 days in advance, is that the reason it's not working? But I've read that one can book 90 days in advance...very confusing!!

Also, I don't understand that 'Tatkal' thing..is that an additional charge?

jolly72 · Aug 9th, 2009, 15:06

Had it just been Delhi to Agra and back, I would have suggested travel by train. Shatabdi Express takes only 2 hrs from Delhi and is a comfortable mode.

You may take a taxi from Agra to Jaipur including sight seeing at both places and drop at Delhi. Two days are good enough for this entire tour from delhi-agra-jaipur-delhi. However, taxi driver will charge you extra amount to travel back from Delhi to Agra as he has to come back to originated place. but that will be hardly 30 USD.

BTW, for train ticket bookings use government booking site: irctc.co.in
Best wishes.

jolly72 · Aug 9th, 2009, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shivani Skydancer

Help!!

I also can't come to grips with the indianrail.gov.in website. It's never working properly!! I either keep getting this error message:
"You must SUBMIT the Enquiry form. Phase 1 GET. Error
FAILED IN CHK ENV 0"
Or else, it says "The Dates given were outside ARP"

Maybe one can only book 30 days in advance, is that the reason it's not working? But I've read that one can book 90 days in advance...very confusing!!

Also, I don't understand that 'Tatkal' thing..is that an additional charge?

use irctc.co.in for train ticket booking. Its 2 months advance. Tatkal is open only 5 days before travel date, costs little more than actual fare.

delhiwala · Aug 9th, 2009, 15:27

Advance Booking is 90 Days, Tatkal (Loosely meaning Urgent) can be booked 2 days ahead.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolly72

use irctc.co.in for train ticket booking. Its 2 months advance. Tatkal is open only 5 days before travel date, costs little more than actual fare.

delhiwala · Aug 9th, 2009, 15:32

Dear Shivani Skydancer,

You may try booking on www.cleartrip.com. It's a less confusing site.

Advance booking can be done 90 days ahead and Tatkal, 2 days ahead. For Tatkal Extra charges are there.

rajered · Aug 9th, 2009, 17:20

The ARP is different for different trains.

The ARP for Taj Express is 30 days.

Shivani Skydancer · Aug 9th, 2009, 18:12

Thank you everyone for the fast replies. I just tried the www.cleartrip.com website, and yes, it is much easier, except, unfortunately they don't allow you to search all classes at once.

Rajered, you are right, it won't allow you to proceed to seeing the availability more than a month in advance.

The other journey I want to book is Delhi to Kalka and onwards to Shimla. I can get all the info for various trains up till Kalka, but impossible to get any results showing from Kalka to Shimla. I already tried at the indianrail.gov.in site and it's the same problem there too! How come? Even if I put a date next week, nothing shows up!!

Jolly72, irctc.co.in is even more difficult to figure out..

rajered · Aug 10th, 2009, 20:54

The problem would be the class that you are trying to select.

The Kalka Shimla train is a toy train and not all the classes would be available.

Check www.erail.in

Shivani Skydancer · Sep 30th, 2009, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

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.

I'm looking at the TRAINS BETWEEN A PAIR OF STATIONS page on the Indian rail website, and can't find those two late evening trains originating in Agra

They all have the little asterisks, indicating it's not an originating train: *AGRA CANTT.

What am i doing wrong? Can anyone please help me out with finding those two late evening trains originating in Agra?

steven_ber · Oct 1st, 2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shivani Skydancer

I'm looking at the TRAINS BETWEEN A PAIR OF STATIONS page on the Indian rail website, and can't find those two late evening trains originating in Agra

They all have the little asterisks, indicating it's not an originating train: *AGRA CANTT.

What am i doing wrong? Can anyone please help me out with finding those two late evening trains originating in Agra?

They're the Shatabdi Express (runs from Jhansi and only has ECC and CC) and the Taj Express (runs from Gwalior I think and has CC and 2S), these are short distances compared with the other trains.

Shivani Skydancer · Oct 1st, 2009, 20:05

Thank you Steven! Now I understand. It's good to know these two wouldn't have lengthy delays.

steven_ber · Oct 1st, 2009, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shivani Skydancer

It's good to know these two wouldn't have lengthy delays.

Unless you're travelling in December or January when fog may cause delays.

Shivani Skydancer · Oct 4th, 2009, 06:33

I booked my e-tickets!! It's for November, so no fog delays :-)

Thanks for your help Steven and others :-)

Aug 9th, 2009, 15:06	#19
jolly72 Live life king size.. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 19	Had it just been Delhi to Agra and back, I would have suggested travel by train. Shatabdi Express takes only 2 hrs from Delhi and is a comfortable mode. You may take a taxi from Agra to Jaipur including sight seeing at both places and drop at Delhi. Two days are good enough for this entire tour from delhi-agra-jaipur-delhi. However, taxi driver will charge you extra amount to travel back from Delhi to Agra as he has to come back to originated place. but that will be hardly 30 USD. BTW, for train ticket bookings use government booking site: irctc.co.in Best wishes. __________________ Enjoy life to the fullest!!

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May 27th, 2009, 03:19	#16
EmpressGinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 104	ROFL, got it..step over the burnt embers and kick Donald Duck..I can do that! Blessings, Ginger

Aug 9th, 2009, 14:06	#18
Shivani Skydancer ॐ Ψ ॐ Ψ ॐ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 240	Help!! I also can't come to grips with the indianrail.gov.in website. It's never working properly!! I either keep getting this error message: "You must SUBMIT the Enquiry form. Phase 1 GET. Error FAILED IN CHK ENV 0" Or else, it says "The Dates given were outside ARP" I wanted to book 2 return tickets (e-tickets, as I'm in Australia) from Delhi to Agra on 8 November. It looks like the Taj Express would be a good fast one to go. And returning the next day on Gondwana Express. Maybe one can only book 30 days in advance, is that the reason it's not working? But I've read that one can book 90 days in advance...very confusing!! Also, I don't understand that 'Tatkal' thing..is that an additional charge?

Aug 9th, 2009, 15:32	#22
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,817	Dear Shivani Skydancer, You may try booking on www.cleartrip.com. It's a less confusing site. Advance booking can be done 90 days ahead and Tatkal, 2 days ahead. For Tatkal Extra charges are there.

Aug 9th, 2009, 17:20	#23
rajered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,184	The ARP is different for different trains. The ARP for Taj Express is 30 days.

Aug 9th, 2009, 18:12	#24
Shivani Skydancer ॐ Ψ ॐ Ψ ॐ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 240	Thank you everyone for the fast replies. I just tried the www.cleartrip.com website, and yes, it is much easier, except, unfortunately they don't allow you to search all classes at once. Rajered, you are right, it won't allow you to proceed to seeing the availability more than a month in advance. The other journey I want to book is Delhi to Kalka and onwards to Shimla. I can get all the info for various trains up till Kalka, but impossible to get any results showing from Kalka to Shimla. I already tried at the indianrail.gov.in site and it's the same problem there too! How come? Even if I put a date next week, nothing shows up!! Jolly72, irctc.co.in is even more difficult to figure out..

Aug 10th, 2009, 20:54	#25
rajered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,184	The problem would be the class that you are trying to select. The Kalka Shimla train is a toy train and not all the classes would be available. Check www.erail.in

Oct 1st, 2009, 20:05	#28
Shivani Skydancer ॐ Ψ ॐ Ψ ॐ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 240	Thank you Steven! Now I understand. It's good to know these two wouldn't have lengthy delays.

Oct 4th, 2009, 06:33	#30
Shivani Skydancer ॐ Ψ ॐ Ψ ॐ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 240	I booked my e-tickets!! It's for November, so no fog delays :-) Thanks for your help Steven and others :-)