What is my best bet to secure a two seater coupe from the below:

Planned Travel: August 25th 2012
Class: First AC
Route: Delhi to Bangalore
Departs: 6:45 am
Arrives: Day 2 7:00 pm

I have booked a KTK SMPRK K EXP from Delhi to Bangalore. I booked a 1 AC ticket so we can secure a 2 seater coupe for privacy / comfort sake as we will also have our 2 month old infant with us. I later learnt from members here that this train only has a combination 1AC / 2AC coach. Which means if I'm not wrong, there is only 1 two-seater coupe, which weakens our chances of getting a two-seater. In worst case scenario, should I find after boarding the train I cannot be assigned a 2-seater, then I will want to downgrade to a 2AC side berth by swapping with someone as privacy is important to me.

So I have two options:

1. Keep this ticket and go and fill a request form in the station at least one day before as suggested by one of the members, however, I am aware that this too does not guarantee a 2-seater coupe.

2. Cancel these and buy Karnataka Exp tickets which I believe has a full 1 AC carriage as well, which improves my chances of a two seater coupe. However, I'll have my wife board from Agra, while I board from Delhi. Since she will be in Agra at that time and the train stops at Agra, there is no point in her traveling to Delhi to board the train.

Note: I am forced to book from Delhi since the Agra quote is waitlisted.

However, I was told by the members that it depends on the TTE; if he is strict, he might cancel my wife's tickets and assign it to someone else. If this is a real consequence to consider, then will walking to a station and mentioning this help? Is it better to book the ticket from the station than booking an e-ticket then walking to the station to make this request?

Currently I am not considering Rajdhani because of the high price.

As long as you board at Delhi yourself and tell the TTE that your wife is boarding from Agra, it should be fine.

Aloke,

Thanks a lot for your reply. But my question was also - should I keep SMPRK K EXP ticket or cancel and book KARNATAKA EXP ticket to improve my chances of getting a 2-seater as you are aware it has a FULL 1A carriage, and apparently, SAMPARK K does not. As you are aware it is a must for me to get two-seater failing which I'll request TTE to downgrade me to 2 AC by swapping our tickets with someone who is willing.

So if this was the case and you were in my place would you have cancelled and booked KARNATAKA EXP

I would. But remember that even in the Karnataka Express, getting a coupe is not guaranteed. However, you have a much better chance as there are 3 coupes in the First AC of Karnataka Express as opposed to just one in the Karnataka Sampark Kranti.

Seeing that getting a coupe is so vital to you, I suggest booking at a counter (If you have not booked already) and clearly stating 'coupe preference' in the reservation slip.

I did not realise that FOOD is not included on these trains!!!!

So what is a better option-

Keep buying food in KTK or go for a Rajdhani?

2 people traveling on a weekend (with an infant) as mentioned above.

I have traveled before in Rajdhani and the experience was awesome, and luckily we did get a two-seater coupe on an e-ticket without any additional info submitted to the station prior to the journey. I however ensure I use the same last name as me for my wife, and prefix "mrs" so that it is clear we are a couple, haha