Train information

all-one-heart

Hi!
What does it mean when I've asked for availability and I get this RAC 1/RAC 1
Thanks!

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all-one-heart

steven_ber

RAC = reserved against cancellation.

When all general quota seats/berths have been sold, some RAC tickets are sold, when all RAC tickets are sold, waitlist tickets are then sold.

RAC gets you on the train (so buy it now), a side lower berth (Sleeper Class or 3-tier air con) is kept as 2 seats (the side upper berth will be occupied by a confirmed ticket holder), 2 RAC ticket holders will occupy those seats, then when the reservation chart is prepared, there will almost certainly be some seats/berths that become available, this happens for one of the following reasons: -

any late cancellations
someone just not turning up
any unused quotas

An RAC passenger will then be given a 'confirmed' seat/berth, and the other RAC passenger will be able to turn the 2 seats into a side lower berth.

A low RAC ticket nearly always means you'll get a confirmed berth when you go to the train.

I will be doing a long thread about waitlists and RAC very soon.

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Train information.

HelenR

Thanks for making sure, I did understand that those were all in the city, that's why I don't have to worry

Lou Wilson

This book new is for sale on ebay Item number: 220254231604 Trains at a glance current July 2007- June 2008 is an annual publication produced by Indian railways, size 8 X 10 and has about 230 pages, it contains details of about 1200 trains in all parts of India including fares.
It has all the info you need about indian railways and is well laid out and easy to read, it is essential for independent travel around india.
Also Chasing Rainbows in Chennai Colin Todhunter Item number: 220254204607 is presently for sale

Aishah

I think Trains at a Glance is updated twice a year? Anyway, this copy you mention Lou is out of date and not a good idea to purchase - better to check out train timings through internet sites already mentioned here, or purchase the latest edition!

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

machadinha

Once a year, I believe but can't be sure.

The latest edition online (July 08-June 09): http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/TAG0809/. As far as I know the paper version can be (cheaply) obtained from most railway stations (at their newspaper kiosks, normally located on some of the platforms if they still are) of any significant size. Like any train timetables, it takes some getting to grips with, but it is small and portable and is indispensable for any serious Indian train travel.

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Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

malayalee

Here is a stupid question. If I am booked in one of the 2A comparments, where on the platform do i stand. The train only stops about two minutes at my platform.

2nd stupid question. Are there attendants in all AC compartments. The reason is that I have confirmed reservation (4 berths) travelling from tiruvalla to trivandrum on the Kerala Exp in 2AC. When i jump on in Tiruvalla, what if others are occupying the berths. I suppose they will move if I ask or demand. However, when I traveled with friends in Sleeper class there were a lot people without any reservation in the sleeper class and sitting next to individuals with reserved accomadation. Can I expect the same in the AC compartments.

Thanks in advance for the responses.

Jean-Philipe

If there is an information booth, ask. The 2A coach(es) will usually be either near the front or the end of the train. There may be a board displaying the coach position. There may be an announcement about the coach position. The porters will also know.


You won't have any problem with "poachers" in 2A. If you have a confirmed reservation, they have no right to be there. In Sleeper Class, especially on busy commuter routes near major stations, people without reservations may get on for a few stops. But they will usually get off a few stations down the line, and by the time you want to bed down, the riff-raff will have cleared out. That's one of the advantages of booking the side berths -- you won't get six people crammed into one seat, the way there may be across the aisle on the bench seat.

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It's all part of the adventure of travelling!

Baba

At some stations there are electronic indications of the coach positions. The best method is however, to engage a porter. These guys know exactly where each carriage will stop and will carry your luggage to that point. Usually they will even load your stuff into the compartment, but I don't know about 2-minute-stops.

The situation with strangers occupying your seat is much better in 2AC than in Sleeper class. I have never had a problem with this and I have taken many trips. Do you have four berths in the same compartment? Then you should have the whole compartement for yourselves anyway, unless there are some RAC passengers.

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Baba

Jean-Philipe

Correct, at the beginning of July each year.

Last year's edition might be useful for someone in North America or Europe wanting general background information and route planning. I wouldn't pay more than a dollar or two for it.

NowInBangalore

Actually, that is not such a stupid question. KanyaKumari express stops at most stations for 5 minutes, and we have to make sure all FOUR of us get in along with our luggage. Thanks for the useful tips.

machadinha

A thing that may bear repeating once in a while, I often notice people worrying about missing their train just because they can't locate the right carriage or seats from the platform.

This isn't the case, if need be, just hop on board on any carriage and sort it out from there. Take it easy at first, mind your packs during the chaos of train arrival and departure, allow for the train to get moving, then kindly enquire with your fellow passengers and/or wait for the TTE (ticket inspector) to appear, or go looking for him or one of his helpers. If possible, you may have drawn his attention already on the platform, without giving him too much complicated crap at that moment, he'll likely be very busy. He'll be over to see you later if you have caught his attention though.

Bottom line: There's absolutely no reason to let that train depart without you in case you don't quite know where to sit. (Assuming you have a valid ticket, of course.)

Or the usual disclaimer: This is as far as I know, anyway. Like in trains most anywhere in the world that I know of, you can normally move between carriages and so look for your seats anyway, although sections of the train may sometimes be entirely closed off to one another (mostly where an entirely separate section was hooked up). In that case, you can naturally just move on to the next carriage at the next stop.

NowInBangalore

Sorry, I have another question for the Masters.
From the irctc.com website, how can one figure out which train has what kind of seatings? Just by trial and error method?

Take for example, this Kanyakumari express, that starts in Bangalore and ends at KK. This train does not have any Chair Cars? When I take a day trip on this train, for example from Ernakulam(dep 10 a.m.) to Trivandrum (arrival 3 p.m.), I have to book Sleeper/2AC/3AC? Is that it?

Baba

You can try using http://www.erail.in/ for this. Once you have the table with all the trains and their classes, click on the "AV" to show the actual availability of your chosen class on this date and train.
And you are right, Kanyakumari Express does not have Chair Class...

NowInBangalore

Thanks, Baba, that is a very useful site.