Train tickets via travel agent Kochi ?

Dear all,
from january to april, I´ll head for India !
I`ve worked my way through the infos concerning trains and tickets, and I`m a bit confused now... I just looked up for some trains I`d like to take (even if my dates aren`t open yet...) and I found there`s a waiting list even for january for some trains... Tourist quota doesn`t exist or is only two or three.
As I´m a solo female traveller, I´d absolutely prefer 2AC or 3AC on the long legs (TVC-HYB, HYB-HWH, HWH-NJP, NJP-Varanasi, Varanasi-Haridwar, - just a few ideas). I could prebook via cleartrip, but as a LP Thorntree post said, I couldn`t cancel or change dates when I`m threre. I don`t like the idea of having a non-changeable schedule when having a three months sabbatical though...
So, my question: Does anyboda know if it`s possible to get in touch with an indian travel agent (I`ll be starting in Kochi), send my passport details and get them buy my tickets at a station in person. So I could change my plans IF I see there`s space on other trains or RAC...
Excuse me if the question was on the forum before, I couldn`t find it...
Thanks to all, Lisa

To add, I saw I can cancel on Cleartrip, BUT in their FAQ they show an example. Here, it`s a refund of 497 RS for a 1587,06 trip.... This is what the LP poster said, they only got a very partial refund...

LisaSoe

Welcome to India Mike

I'm not sure why you have been advised that you can't cancel tickets booked through Cleartrip while you are in India. As long as you can access your account on line you will be able to cancel.

You could book tickets yourself, saving the agent's fees and receiving your e-ticket immediately. Then cancel as your plans change but with the confidence that you have a fall back position.

Additional - The amount you receive as a refund will depend on when you cancel. I have found Cleartrip to be very fair with refunds.

Hi Dave,

I refer to that post: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=1837919, even if its quite old.
And I was astonished by the cleartrip FAQ example after having read that cancellation fee for sleeper (as in example) is 40 Rs. Indian Railways site write about a maximum of 50 % : www.indianrail.gov.in/refund_Rules.html
1587,06 to 497 Rs is a bit more...
But I`m glad to hear that you had no problems so far...

Thanks, Lisa

The LP post you refer to dates back to 2009. I'm afraid that is before my interest in the subject but you will not have a problem as things stand. There have been many changes in the booking system over recent years.

The cancellation fee of Rs40/- for a sleeper assumes that you cancel at least 24 hours before the train is due to depart. You also forfeit the Cleartrip booking fee (Rs 20/- if I remember correctly) The cancellation fees are higher for AC classes.

I once enquired with an Indian travel agent about booking tickets for me. He wanted Rs 80/- per person per ticket. I told him to forget it and queued myself.

If you do use an agent make sure that they are authorised. Indian Railways are taking action to clamp down on illegally resold tickets.

I'm not a big fan of Cleartrip, but I have to say that when I cancelled tickets booked by Cleartrip I was surprised at how little I lost.

Don't be worried about extreme examples, you could book a Sleeper Class ticket from Delhi to Agra, it would cost Rs120 & a small booking fee, if you were to cancel that ticket within 24 hours of the train, you'd lose half the ticket cost and the booking fee, so the % looks massive, but almost all people would cancel more than a day before the train and lose very little.

Kochi travel agent????

India is huge, would you expect a German travel agent to know the neat tricks about booking 'hard to book' trains in Greece or Portugal?

And this is the problem with your route, and travel agents, they will book EXACTLY what you ask for, and you will be happy with it, but you'll be on the wrong trains.

NJP-Varanasi is a prime example, the best trains can't be booked between NJP and Varanasi (or Mughal Sarai, a massive junction close to Varanasi), they have to be booked all the way till Allahabad (or Lucknow), and although this doesn't add a lot to the fare, many people aren't aware of this booking restriction so will book you on the Brahmaputra Mail, a very slow and poorly timed train.

Likewise, Varanasi-Haridwar has direct trains, but they're slow, it's often better booking a direct train from Varanasi to Roorkee, then getting a taxi/bus from Roorkee to Haridwar/Rishikesh.