trains and ticketed passsengers

michael sunkist

Nameste, I just recently returned from 6 months in India. I used trains frequently and usually booked 2nd class sleeper. On boarding in major cities a conductor would come check tickets and enroute the entire car would fill up at little village stops to where there were people sitting on the floors it would get so crowded. What is the reason for booking space when there is no gaurentee there is space due to overcrowding? Is 1st class sleeper a better way to go?

steven_ber

This can be a good topic to discuss, however, we need to first establish exactly what classes you're talking about.

I'd guess that '2nd class sleeper' means Sleeper Class (not air con), but many people think 2nd class sleeper is 2-tier air con or 3-tier air con.

But it's normally Sleeper Class that fills up during the day.


The 1st class sleeper reference only makes sense if you mean 2-tier air con when you refer to 2nd class sleeper.

For those planning their first trip, the classes are described very well in the following thread.

Knowing the Indian Train

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

ranjan154

Well, That's correct the train gets crowded during the day.. the point is there aren't sufficient number local trains for the daily passengers in the remote area's. Sometimes they need to wait for quite long hours even to go for small distances. So they get boarded in the long distance train..

And for the TC (Ticket collector), they aren't good source of money.. So neither they can charge them penalty or they can send them to unreserved bogies, just because they local people. That's the reason why trains get crowded..

Now as far reservation is concerned atleast you get a seat to sit and place to sleep at night

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michael sunkist

NO 2nd class AC as I traveled primarily in the north during winter. I'm coming back to India this year and would like to travel not being so crowded I could hardly move which happened as the car filled up at every little stop from point a to point b. What is your suggestion? I don't mind paying a bit more for the comfort of no crowds.

wonderwomanusa

Book 2- or 3-tier AC class (yes, even if it's winter); they are not so crowded and prices are substantially higher. If you are a senior citizen, they offer a discount.

In AC class, sheets and blankets, pillows and a small towel are provided; even in January, I was nice and warm on a long (24-hour) trip to Delhi.

vsp27759

Dear Mr.Michael,

Your observation:-
"as the car filled up at every little stop from point a to point b. What is your suggestion? I don't mind paying a bit more for the comfort of no crowds."

##In the first instance, wherever it is possible for you, select a train which has got "Less Number of Stops" so that it would not stop "at every little stop".

##Secondly, wherever it is available, you please select "3AC Sleeper" for your journey, which is less costlier than 2AC Sleeper (or) IAC Sleeper, and also less crowdier than Sleeper Class Coach with less scope for "unauthorised entry".

V.Srinivasa Prasad
7.6.2007/13.00 hrs.

torquey2000

We had 1st class 2 tier AC and people still seemed to get on and off at will and sit anywhere. There were way more people on the carriage than the official seating dictated. The conductor looked at our tickets (very, very thoroughly) but not those of anyone else, so I don't know how they monitor fare paying passengers. When it was time to sleep we just politely insisted that they move!
We found the train (in this class) very comfortable and actually slept quite well. Our kids slept straight for 11 hours. It was 100% better than any road trip we did and gave us a good look at the real India. Mind you, the "cattle class" carriages looked like hell on earth, especially in 40 degree heat, sitting around in stations for up to an hour in the sun. Any wonder people try and get a spot in the AC carriage!

karnail

There are so many related issues, firstly in India generally we have cheapest(by any standard)and the upper most classes(AC-I) in almost every long distance train. Why so crowdy? the reason is simply the low fare factor and the volume of unorganised migratory labour. I dont think that any one ever enters unauthorisedly in Rajdhanis and Shatabdis. Just try Rajdhani You can go 1500 kms in a Rajdhani Express for only around 1500/- (less than 40 dDollars.)Further Rajdhanis and Shatabdis can cover almost almost all bases of the interesting places, if you plan.
http://karnail.blogspot.com/

federica

If a train is crowded or not is dependent on where and when you are travelling... and there are conductors who send ppl without reservation to the general compartment... I can't second your experiences.... maybe because South India is different...