Train from Delhi to Khajuraho

I am a mother with one teenage daughter and one teenage son. We want to travel on the overnight train from Delhi to Khajuraho. The three tiered sleeping car is the highest class offered on the train. Will my son be separated from my daughter and me? Can we possibly pay for all the six seats/beds so that we get a private compartment? How safe is this particular train? We want to remain together in one compartment and would love to pay for the extra three seats so it is private. Is this possible or will the conductor give away the vacant seats when he sees nobody is using them even if we have paid for them?

No you cant pay for all the berths.

Stop worrying, it's safe.

Book 3 tickets, then tell us the seat numbers, and we'll tell you if they're all together.

I am surprised that a family would be split up into two or three separate compartments.

Well, That is indeed how it can happen. In most cases, what happens is that its a set of 8

3 rows facing another 3
and 2 rows on the side.

in 80% cases, if booked well in advance, all 3 will be in the same set of 8. Of course, YMMV.

##Please look at this:
---------------------------------
*12448 U P SMPRK KRNTI 28-1-2011 H NIZAMUDDIN KHAJURAHO GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -SL
1 28- 1-2011 AVAILABLE 45 AVAILABLE 49
2 30- 1-2011 AVAILABLE 45 AVAILABLE 49
3 1- 2-2011 AVAILABLE 45 AVAILABLE 49
.............................. ....

##From the above data, it is very much clear that this Link Express to Khajuraho carries One AC 3Tier Coach & One Sleeper Class Coach (**non-AC).

##However, the arrangement of Berths in both these Coaches is one and the same. Overall, there will be 8 Bays in AC 3 Tier Coach and 9 Bays in non-AC 3-Tier Coach(**otherwise called as Sleeper Class), each consisting 8 Berths.

##The availability of berths, as on the date when you decide to make the booking, will decide the proximity between you. But, all of you would be in the same coach!!!!

I would do the AC 3-tier. Do the compartments in AC-3 tier have doors or are they open/have curtains? I need to do some reading up to figure out how to reserve a particular level.

Here's 3AC

Only curtains for the windows.

6 inside berths and 2 side berths per section, 8 sections per carriage.

The middle berths drop down to form a backrest for people to sit on the lower berth during the day, the upper berth remains fixed in place.

The backrests from the 2 side berth seats drop down to make the side lower berth.

If you're not seated together btw, speak to the TTE (ticket examiner) and/or your fellow passengers, and chances are it will be sorted out.

You being a mom with your kids, I'd say it's almost unthinkable people wouldn't be willing to accommodate you.

I did the tickets very quickly and easily on cleartrip using a foreign Mastercard. I have the seat/berth assignments and we were given one side upper, one side lower, and one middle. I asked for two side lowers and one side upper. Well, my son will have to take the middle even though it was given to me and I am by far the oldest of the lot. I am assuming we are near each other and hopefully not near the bathroom. Here are the assignments: B2/31, B2/29, B2/32. I guess we should be happy that we got two of the three requests. My son is used to camping out on the ground in a sleeping bag, so the middle bunk should be luxurious for him. I am hoping that we will have some good poles to lock up the luggage because I will be having a lower bunk. Should we otherwise go to the Delhi train station early and check the luggage in the break room? How do I get the luggage out of the break room in Khajuraho? Thanks for your help.

I see the seat map you attached. Thanks. We are not by the bathroom or the door! Hooray! However, I am still looking for your replies about checking the luggage in the break room and how that works.

There'll be metal hoops provided underneath the seats for you to lock your luggage to. Not everyone does this, it's up to you. A light chain and padlock suffices, it's just to stop snatch-and-run type action, no one will come by with a bolt cutter.

These light chains & locks are normally conveniently sold by vendors in and around (not totally minor) stations, though you may not want to leave getting one to the last minute, of course. Otherwise, just pick them up by some convenience store or something. They'll be vastly cheaper than where you live.

I'll normally lock my daypack in there (so my pack is also lockable), or keep it under my head or so. Or perhaps rest my head on the whole pack anyway, if it isn't too large. You could lock it to the berth's structure.

I don't think 3A has open windows,* but if it does (there are bars on them), don't keep your daypack or other small valuables right next to it. Petty thieves during stops aside, I've seen people unwittingly having their bags' straps dangling out the window. If it catches on to something, there goes your bag or camera, of course.

* (Edit: No, of course it wouldn't, it's A/C. Never mind, duh )

Other than that, you really don't need to worry too much. India's a pretty safe country. Get that locking business if you do at all over and done with as you settle in and as casually as possible, then don't pay it another thought. You wouldn't want to leave the impression you mistrust your fellow passengers, right. And you'd normally have very little reason to, indeed. Chances are rather you'll be surprised by the tokens of hospitality extended to you.

Your real valuables should preferably be secure in a money belt and on your body, of course. They'll be safer there than anywhere else. The same applies again: once and since they're securely there, try to not pay it too much attention beyond that. To obsess about is my stuff in order is an annoying streak along the way, guaranteed to drive yourself nuts. (Checking all the time, you'll also be giving away its whereabouts, of course.)

There will be no brake room - if at all, it'll be dicey since only two bogies are left at a godforsaken station (the name beats me) - it was exactly as steven said just 1 ac and 1 non ac coach. no brake room stuff. You lock it under the seats

You have one middle seat, 1 side upper, 1 side lower (decent space to stow most bags unless you have some gargantuan ones). as a reference, indian railways have almost 11-12" of space under the seats UNLIKE the paltry 6" or so luggage space in european sleeper coaches (or so I saw this august).

You are all in one compartment within the coach so chill.

asiatraveler18

Your fears are going to ruin your trip, and for god's sake, don't pass these fears on to your kids.

If you can't go with an open mind, stay home.

I'd +1 to that. India has enough randomness and nonsense at every step - why carry any faux ghosts in your head? You're making this WAY more complicated than it is. Keep a positive outlook and be happy. Carry less - both on your mind and on your back. India has enough memories and shopping for you to carry back home

/who thinks Indian Railways trumps the nonsense they call Railways in Poland and Czech Republic - you can't book anything online
//even TrenItalia never told me the Venice-Budapest train was going via a non-schenegen country - Indian rail has infinitely more detailed info online.