Train from Varanasi to Haridwar

miravalles

Hello,

I'll be travelling from Varanasi to Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela on the 11th of april. I need to be there on the 12th, because I've already paid for the hotel.
Since it's so close to the big bathing date, the trains are full. All classes have waiting lists.
I booked a 2AC ticket for the train departing Varanasi at 10:30AM. I booked this class since it was the one that had the best waiting list status. My status is RLWL 9. I still don't quite get the system. RL means I'm boarding on a station other than that of origin, right?
I ended up choosing Kashi station as my boarding point. I really don't know why. I guess it was the first that came up and I searched for the trains.
I would appreciate very much if you could give some advice on this trip from Varanasi to Haridwar. Do you think I have a chance to board on this train? Do you think I should book another train, just in case? There's one leaving Varanasi 8:30AM. Any other options to go from Varanasi to Haridwar?

All help will be appreciated. Thank in advance.

steven_ber

Your ticket has got no chance of becoming confirmed, there are only 2 berths used for that sector, so you need a hell of a lot of cancellations.

I've found a great alternative, but I'm slightly worried about the short connection time at Lucknow.

Train 2391 departs Varanasi Jn station at 15:11 and gets to Lucknow at 20:25, there are 4 berths available in 2A on the 11th.
(see post below for better option to the above train)


Train 2231 departs Lucknow at 22:30 and gets to Roorkee at 06:21, you can get RAC6 in 2A on the 11th, this WILL get confirmed.

Roorkee is about 25kms from Haridwar and there are many buses, or just share a cab to Haridwar.

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steven_ber

Forget that first train (2391), I've found a better option.

Train 2237 departs Varanasi Jn at 13:00 and gets to Lucknow at 18:05, it has availability in 3A on the 11th.

At Lucknow, Go out of the main entrance (passed the temple) and turn left, there will then be a junction with another road going away from the station, walk down that road, there's plenty to do there in the evening, loads to eat and drink, Internet, night market etc. a nice place to kill a few hours.

vsp27759

Dear Steven,

##Please look at this:
------------------
4265 BSB DDN EXP 9-4-2010 VARANASI JN HARIDWAR JN GENERAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL Class -3A
1 9- 4-2010 WL 188/WL 152 WL 16/WL 13
2 10- 4-2010 WL 256/WL 213 WL 62/WL 28
3 11- 4-2010 WL 320/WL 267 WL 29/WL 21
4 12- 4-2010 WL 493/WL 371 WL 46/WL 26
5 13- 4-2010 WL 161/WL 118 WL 27/WL 13
6 14- 4-2010 WL 14/WL 10 WL 7/WL 3....................

##It seems 14th is the last day for Kumbh Mela. Hence, there is no rush from Varanasi on 14th. I welcome to be corrected!!

vsp27759

Dear miravalles,

##Please try your luck in the Tatkal Quota also, booking for which opens at 8.00 hrs. - two days in advance, including the day of journey. That is, for 11th April, the booking opens on 9th.
-----
##To have an idea, please look at this:
..
4265 BSB DDN EXP 23-3-2010 VARANASI JN DEHRADUN TATKAL
S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - SL Class -3A
1 23- 3-2010 Charting Done Charting Done
2 24- 3-2010 WL 8/WL 7 WL 2/WL 2
3 25- 3-2010 WL 7/WL 4 WL 1/WL 1
4 26- 3-2010 AVAILABLE 12 AVAILABLE 4
5 27- 3-2010 AVAILABLE 12 AVAILABLE 4
6 28- 3-2010 AVAILABLE 12 AVAILABLE 4
----------

miravalles

Thank you very much steven_ber and vsp27759 for all the info.

I looked for the 2237 train from Varanasi to Lucknow and couldn't find it. I found another one that seems fine. Train 4265 departing Varanasi at 8:30AM. All classes are wide open.
Then, from Lucknow to Roorkee, the current status of class 2AC for train 2231 is WL 5/WL 4. So, it will be OK if I book this? Is it certain that I'll get confirmed?
There's another train departing Lucknow 30 minutes later, but it reaches Roorkee much later, at noon. This one is open. Maybe it's late, isn't it? I still have to go to Haridwar.
Shit, I forgot my credit card at home and by the time I get there, I won't be able to book the tickets, because of the time. Let's hope tomorrow the situation remains the same.

Once again, thanks a lot. You guys are great.

Cheers

steven_ber

Did you search either selecting 'All Class' or '3A'

That's an option, but 2237 is 3 hours quicker.

Not certain, but likely, there are still 8 berths available in the HO quota (you can't book these), but these are normally used to reduce the waitlist.

May be worth booking as a back up.

miravalles

I searched using all classes. I tried 3 or 4 times and in none of them this train came up.
Well, I grabbed the 4257 leaving Varanasi at 13:45. Sleeper class on this one.
But you know that those huge differences in the duration of the trips really amazed me. Two trains going to the same destination and one takes way much longer than the other. And I checked the route on both. The difference is not that big. Maybe about 100km. One goes through 10 stations and the other, 15. And it takes 5 hours more!
Thanks a lot steven_ber! I really apprecite your help. Your knowledge helps a lot of people.

miravalles

Now let me just go off topic for a little bit.
The Indian Railway System is something fantastic. I'm really impressed. Well, I'm saying it but I've never traveled on an Indian train. Anyway, I know it's a fantastic system.
A million times better than in Brasil, that's what I was willing to say. The train in Brasil is close to nothing.
Brasil is a huge country like India. Wouldn't it be great if we had a similar train system here, connecting the whole country?
I'm sorry for that.
Back on Indian trains.

steven_ber

You must be using cleartrip to book your trains, I just tried cleartrip and couldn't find train 2237 (only calls at 1 station on the way to Lucknow)., the worry for 4257 is that it could get delayed, and a delay in India can sometimes mean hours, not minutes.

Try using IRCTC

See the following thread, but try using the AXIS payment gateway.

How to book train tickets online - consolidated advice


I agree about Indian Railways, it's huge and is more a way of life that a service.

miravalles

I was actually using makemytrip.com. It was recommended by a friend of mine who recently visited India.
I just went to IRCTC and I found 2237 there. I tried to book it but something went wrong. I'll try again later.
Once again, thanks a lot steven_ber.