Train information

Josepha

it's too bad...
but, in France I take train each day, and they are often late... sometime 1 or 2 hours, because, horses, cows, cars or people on the railways...
I've choose train in afternoon, but you are right they come from "Lord knows" where. it's a part of Dream. perhaps stay on the quai and wait can give us another sight of indians people. Don't thimg so?
Thank you for yours advices
jo

HelenR

We're thinking of taking 1093 Mahanagari Express from Satna to Varanasi. It arrives in Varanasi at 4:30am. Will arriving so early be a problem if we are planning on searching for a hotel room after arriving in Varanasi?

steven_ber

It is supposed to arrive in Varanasi at 4:30.

Chances are that it will be late.

I think I recognise the train name, I think I used this train to get from Varanasi to Hoshangabad (Train's destination was Lokmanya Tilak, Mumbai), but the train was about 8 hours late, so I lost that day.

If the train arrives on time, sod looking for a hotel, get down the Ghats and relax by the river, have some Chai, some breakfast, then get a hotel.

If you want a tiny bit more time in Khajuraho, get the train from Mahoba to Varanasi, it departs about midnight (careful with date when booking), Mahoba is closer to Khajuraho, but I read about someone having problems booking the train from Mahoba a few days ago.

There will one day be trains from Khajuraho to Varanasi, Lalu, the railway minister pulled a stunt just before the last rail budget, he was booked to see off the first train from Khajuraho.....we're still waiting.

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Train information.

Mickey S

For the non-English speakers on the forum, "sod" is a British verb meaning "Don't bother...".

HelenR

Thanks Steven!

Wow, 8 hours late! That must be a record. Please tell me that's not the norm

I looked into Mahoba to Varanasi but we don't know how to get to Mahoba from Khajuraho. I remember reading that the road to Satna was better too.

I'll be looking forward to the day a train connects Khajuraho to Varanasi.

steven_ber

Expect your trains to run 2-3 hours late, AND don't wear a watch, then you'll have a less stressful trip.

I'm partially serious though, your trains will likely run late, it's the main reason not to have a 'day here and a day there', the trains will spoil that kind of trip.

HelenR

I can deal with 2-3 hours. I never wear watches during the summer anyway, they feel too heavy But we'll have to keep track of time somehow so I guess we'll put a simple one in our pockets...

NowInBangalore

I just read the first post by Steven Ber - it is all so true. Memories came flooding back, when as a 20 year old girl, I would travel back and forth ALONE between Kolkata(where my college was) and Rourkela (where my home was). Sometimes I would take the overnight train, sometimes the daytime train, everytime it would be some experience. During the day, the other families in the compartment would feed me and talk to me, and worry if I would reach my destination safely. At night, I would always reserve the Upper berth, the men would comment how it was not safe for a girl to travel by herself at night, so they would all make it their business to keep an eye out for me.
It is experiences like these that made me drag my gora husband and children back to India. And then, when I go now out on the streets, I find myself often rolling down my car window and screaming at the person trying to cut in front of me, and then I look at those moronic blank stares and wonder how this country ever is to move ahead.
The land of such conflicts!!

HelenR

I was trying to book 2559 Shiv Ganga Express from Varanasi BSB to Delhi DLI. But it now says that the station has been deleted from the route!

The train stops in Delhi at the Delhi Safdarjng (DSJ) station. Is this at a central spot in Delhi? Should I look at trains that stop at the New Delhi (NDLS) station instead?

I'm just confused about the stations in Delhi...

machadinha

I think Safdarjang (or Safdarjung, if you want to search around) is in the south, near the Hauz Khas area which may be easier for you to find.

While I can't promise you this, there are city trains connecting the stations, and there is now the subway (known as metro), if it runs here. Try http://www.delhimetrorail.com/ ; thing is, I can never make out what lines are finished or merely planned on their maps.

In any event, my guess would be it's far easier to take a train to any of the city's stations then move on from there (by cab if need be), rather than to look for an entirely different train. But maybe someone else here wants to confirm.

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Aishah

Some of these other Delhi stations e.g. Sarai Rohilla, Nizamuddin, Safdarjung etc. are actually less frantic than Old Delhi or New Delhi and easier to take a cab or auto rickshaw to your destination because of less traffic congestion in these areas. Safdarjung is not a long way out from Connaught Place by cab - I would take the train which timings suit you and not worry about the station in Delhi where it is stopping. If you are staying in South Delhi, Chanakyapuri area it is actually easier to get on and off at Delhi Cantt than go to Old Delhi for instance. None of the other Delhi stations are really too far away from places of staying - Sarai Rohilla is close to Karol Bagh for instance.

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all-one-heart

Hi Steven or other experts.

I've been trying to figure out about train reservations.
http://www.indianrail.gov.in/cgi_bin...m_cgi_date.cgi

I want to go from Pondicherry to Mumbai and back.
I seem to remember that trains to Chennai and back from Pondicherry are really slow and that it's best to take a bus or taxi? Is that still so?

I was hoping to arrive in Mumbai on 7 august, 2008. and come back to Pondy 18th of August.

And I'd prefer an express train with first class sleeper? I can't
tell if that's proposed?
Which one is the best?
Is DADAR in Mumbai?
Am I right in understanding from the above train site that it takes 46 hours?
I am having a hard time with the site. OOOF.

Can I make reservatins from the Pondicherry train station even if I leave from Chennai? It seems that might be easier? than on line? Maybe? But I won't be in India,and Pondy before 13 july - a bit late to make reservatins?

Sorry to inconvenience you. Thanks for advice.

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steven_ber

Yes, for a return trip.

Train 2164 (The fastest train) departs Chennai Central daily at 07:00 and gets to Dadar (Mumbai) at 06:00 the next day, so a 23 hour journey.

Try to book as far ahead as you can, I think you can book from Pondi, as long as there's a computerised reservation office you can book a train departing from Chennai.

There is also a train (6352) from Villupuram Jn (close to Pondi), departing at 15.50 and getting to Mumbai CST at 20.50 (29 hours), but this train only has 2A, 3A and Sleeper Class, and more importantly, only runs on Thursdays and Sundays.

HelenR

Thanks for the link Mach! As long as it's close enough, cab or metro makes no difference, as long as we can get to Connaught Place comfortably.

Aisah, thanks for the info! I feel better now. But I will still try to get a train as close as possible because we like walking from the train station to our hotel. It gives us a chance to acquaint ourselves with the city. Still, now I don't have to worry that the station is outside Delhi

Aishah

Helen - all the stations I have mentioned are not 'outside Delhi' - they are all within the city of Delhi!