Where to Buy Indrail pass in the US

Boardlizard · Nov 23rd, 2004, 02:50

Hello all,

This is my first trip to India and I am due to land in Kalkuta on Feb 14th. But I am having a terrible time finding a Indrail pass sales agent in the US. Does one exist? Or is it as simple as me going directly to the train station and buying one on the spot? TIA

wonderwomanusa · Nov 24th, 2004, 10:14

When you get to Calcutta, go to Fairlie Place (train reservation office, NOT the station) to arrange your RailPass.

I bought a pass there last year; the person I dealt with was NOT familiar with the process and it took 'way too long, so be prepared for that.

You must pay for these in foreign currency.

Boardlizard · Nov 24th, 2004, 23:16

Thank you Wonder Woman, I just spoke with a gentlman from the Government of India Tourist Office in NY and he told me to exactly the same thing. I am all set now!!!

Zeppy · Nov 22nd, 2006, 23:04

Board Lizard,

Before I got my Indrail pass I shopped around. I found the following info at query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9 B05E5DC1230F93AA35752C1A961958 260.

"While an Indrail Pass will save money only if one travels a lot, Karma Bhutia of Hari-World Travel, the official Indian Railways agent in the United States, says it's worth getting one to avoid long lines and disapppointment. The pass can be bought Hari-World Travel, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N.Y. 10036; (212) 997-3300, fax (800) 957-3299.
Some sample costs of an adult pass for a first-class, air-conditioned sleeper are $110 for 4 days, $150 for 7 days, $185 for 15 days. In addition to a $20 fee for a reservation, Hari-World charges $10 for ticket delivery."

I did not buy mine from them, because I thought that the $20 fee per reservation was steep. All the agencies I looked into had fees or other peculiarities--the one in Germany charges a fee and won't take credit cards, the one in the UK (highly recommended on Indiamike) charges no fees but has a very steep USD to GBP exchange rate.

Like you I am a novice. But my take on the Indrail pass is that it only makes sense to get one if you book your trains way in advance. This is its one big advantage--you can book seats up to a year in advance and thus get seats on the trains you want, before the rest of the world is allowed to start booking (60 days in advance). If you can sit down and plan your trip 2 1/2-3 months in advance, then it seems to be worth it. If you can't, it isn't a very good deal.

I noticed that the trains I was interested in were booking up long in advance. And I am going in peak tourist season, Dec.-Jan. So I made myself plan my trip and bought the pass over 60 days ahead of time. In February there may be less of a crunch, I don't know.

I hope this helps.

Zeppy

steven_ber · Nov 22nd, 2006, 23:09

I've heard that Hari-World Travel no longer do Indrail passes, but that was about a year ago.

Could someone in NY or NJ give them a call and find out?

wonderwomanusa · Nov 23rd, 2006, 10:45

Like you I am a novice. But my take on the Indrail pass is that it only makes sense to get one if you book your trains way in advance.

Actually, my experience was the opposite. The Indrail Pass gives you access to "special quotas" on trains that are nominally full, so even booking a day or two before my chosen departure date, I was almost always able to get the train I wanted.

There are the conventional reservations, the "tourist quota," and then various other berths that are held empty -- the "VIP quota," for one.

In 1989, with a 90-day first-class pass, there were only two reservations that I was unable to get; luckily I had alternate destinations in mind.

steven_ber · Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:32

WW

I've been hoping for years to find information on occupancy levels on trains, I suspect that the occupancy of the air con classes (other than 1AC) have in the last couple of years become much greater despite the rise in the number of budget airlines.

I have absolutely no way of proving this, and could very easily be wrong.

Initially the railways lost out to the budget airlines, but then the railway minister decided to fight back, I suspect he had a lot of success.

For the past 2 years I've done a thread advising people of the low availability of berths on the Konkan routes in the run up to Xmas, I've not bothered this year as there are virtually no berths left, it was difficult enough getting berths for the end of November, and I was trying extra hard because the berths were for my family.

I also found out that SD Enterprises (who sell 1000's of passes a year) are refusing to try to book any more trains before the new year, and they make there money from these bookings.

It would be interesting to see the figures for occupancy levels.

I do agree with you though, the Indrail Pass can get you berths when none seem available.

Nov 23rd, 2004, 02:50	#1
Boardlizard Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2	Where to Buy Indrail pass in the US Hello all, This is my first trip to India and I am due to land in Kalkuta on Feb 14th. But I am having a terrible time finding a Indrail pass sales agent in the US. Does one exist? Or is it as simple as me going directly to the train station and buying one on the spot? TIA

Nov 22nd, 2006, 23:09	#5
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,143	I've heard that Hari-World Travel no longer do Indrail passes, but that was about a year ago. Could someone in NY or NJ give them a call and find out? __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

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Nov 24th, 2004, 10:14	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,457	When you get to Calcutta, go to Fairlie Place (train reservation office, NOT the station) to arrange your RailPass. I bought a pass there last year; the person I dealt with was NOT familiar with the process and it took 'way too long, so be prepared for that. You must pay for these in foreign currency.

Nov 24th, 2004, 23:16	#3
Boardlizard Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2	Thank you Wonder Woman, I just spoke with a gentlman from the Government of India Tourist Office in NY and he told me to exactly the same thing. I am all set now!!!

Nov 22nd, 2006, 23:04	#4
Zeppy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Paris Posts: 179	Board Lizard, Before I got my Indrail pass I shopped around. I found the following info at query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9 B05E5DC1230F93AA35752C1A961958 260. "While an Indrail Pass will save money only if one travels a lot, Karma Bhutia of Hari-World Travel, the official Indian Railways agent in the United States, says it's worth getting one to avoid long lines and disapppointment. The pass can be bought Hari-World Travel, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N.Y. 10036; (212) 997-3300, fax (800) 957-3299. Some sample costs of an adult pass for a first-class, air-conditioned sleeper are $110 for 4 days, $150 for 7 days, $185 for 15 days. In addition to a $20 fee for a reservation, Hari-World charges $10 for ticket delivery." I did not buy mine from them, because I thought that the $20 fee per reservation was steep. All the agencies I looked into had fees or other peculiarities--the one in Germany charges a fee and won't take credit cards, the one in the UK (highly recommended on Indiamike) charges no fees but has a very steep USD to GBP exchange rate. Like you I am a novice. But my take on the Indrail pass is that it only makes sense to get one if you book your trains way in advance. This is its one big advantage--you can book seats up to a year in advance and thus get seats on the trains you want, before the rest of the world is allowed to start booking (60 days in advance). If you can sit down and plan your trip 2 1/2-3 months in advance, then it seems to be worth it. If you can't, it isn't a very good deal. I noticed that the trains I was interested in were booking up long in advance. And I am going in peak tourist season, Dec.-Jan. So I made myself plan my trip and bought the pass over 60 days ahead of time. In February there may be less of a crunch, I don't know. I hope this helps. Zeppy

Nov 23rd, 2006, 10:45	#6
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,457	Like you I am a novice. But my take on the Indrail pass is that it only makes sense to get one if you book your trains way in advance. Actually, my experience was the opposite. The Indrail Pass gives you access to "special quotas" on trains that are nominally full, so even booking a day or two before my chosen departure date, I was almost always able to get the train I wanted. There are the conventional reservations, the "tourist quota," and then various other berths that are held empty -- the "VIP quota," for one. In 1989, with a 90-day first-class pass, there were only two reservations that I was unable to get; luckily I had alternate destinations in mind.

Nov 23rd, 2006, 11:32	#7
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,143	WW I've been hoping for years to find information on occupancy levels on trains, I suspect that the occupancy of the air con classes (other than 1AC) have in the last couple of years become much greater despite the rise in the number of budget airlines. I have absolutely no way of proving this, and could very easily be wrong. Initially the railways lost out to the budget airlines, but then the railway minister decided to fight back, I suspect he had a lot of success. For the past 2 years I've done a thread advising people of the low availability of berths on the Konkan routes in the run up to Xmas, I've not bothered this year as there are virtually no berths left, it was difficult enough getting berths for the end of November, and I was trying extra hard because the berths were for my family. I also found out that SD Enterprises (who sell 1000's of passes a year) are refusing to try to book any more trains before the new year, and they make there money from these bookings. It would be interesting to see the figures for occupancy levels. I do agree with you though, the Indrail Pass can get you berths when none seem available.

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