Train Tickets

pincushion

Hi,
We're leaving to go to India on Friday! We've got our train tickets - half of them have a seat number and compartment, the other half just say reserved. These are the long haul ones. Does this mean we just hop on the train and find a seat? With our tickets that have seats is it fairly obvious how to find your proper area? How early should one arrive for a train trip?

Any other advice on the train, and how to use our tickets is appreicated.

Thanks a lot!

steven_ber

What type of train tickets? (Indrail passes or ordinary train tickets?)


Reserved? or does it say Confirmed?


The earlier the better, it can be chaos at a train station, you need to have lots of time, a train station is also a fantastic place to sit and watch everything that is going on around you.

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pincushion

The tickets are regular ones ordered off the website.

My mistake, they do say "confirmed", not reserved where the coach seat / berth is on the other tickets.

When we are about to travel on the train (I've never travelled via rail before) do we just hop on the train and present our tickets later, or do we need to present our tickets somewhere before we hop on?

Thanks again!

-m2-

If you are boarding at the originating station, go to the platform where your train is sitting and walk along until you come to the appropriate cars (i.e. SL, 2ac, etc) and look at the rosters attatched to the cars of your ticket class and look for your name. If you are starting from an intermediate station, first check the chart which indicates the (numbered) position on the platform at which the coaches will halt. If your ticket does not state coach number, then just go to general area where the cars of your class will be halting and check the rosters or board a coach of the appropriate class and the conductor will direct you to your seat/berth after checking his copy of the roster.

Like Steve says, it's a good idea to get to the station a bit early -- the major stations can be a bit hectic. A further caution; keep a close eye on your gear until the train leaves the station -- if you want to step out visit the WC or to buy drinks, magazines etc., someone from your party should stay behind to watch as the potential problem is generally not from fellow passengers once the train is underway but from those wandering through car looking for an opportunity while the train is in the station and it is easy to disappear.

Have a great trip!

SHIMLA

Are these tickets for class "FC" or '1A" ?

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pincushion

they are for 1A.

SHIMLA

Fine ! Its normal for your ticket to read just "CONFIRMED", if its for FC or 1A.

On the day of your journey, you'll find reservation charts pinned to a board on the platform, near the entrance. Your coach number will be H1(normal numbering of a 1A coach); look it up on the charts and you'll find what cabin/coupe has been allotted to you. At times even the position of the coach from the engine is indicated on the charts, to help you locate it. At many stations, there are small neon signs hung up at the top, indicating coach position. Its not at all difficult to locate your coach.

Your tickets will most probably be examined by an attendant before boarding the coach(normally done for 1A passengers on the Rajdhani Express) and then will be further examined during the journey by a TTE (Travelling Ticket Examiner). Do not be surprised or annoyed if your ticket is examined more than once during the journey by different TTEs, as the "duty" of the TTE may end en route, when there'll be a change in the "division" which the train passes through; and he'll be replaced by a new TTE.

pincushion

Great! Thank you all soooo much, this is the one thing that has had me a bit worried about my trip. I think I'm all packed and ready to go......just have to wait for friday to come.....

machadinha

I've read panicky reports here about getting on the right coach and possibly missing the train because of it. However I think with some exceptions you can usually just board and find the right coach while already being on your train. It's no reason for uncertain wandering about outside I mean if you're in a hurry, you can just wander up and down the train like in most other countries. If as a tourist you do find yourself stuck on the wrong coach I'm sure the trains personnel will be more than helpful to get you to your seat, perhaps at the next stop if need be.

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edwardseco

A good porter can save a ton of hassle as well..

SHIMLA

You can move from coach to coach on a moving train only if the train is vestibuled. Generally, long distance trains equipped with a pantry car are vestibuled.