Using Agents in Hampi to book Train Tickets

GuinnessGirl · Feb 24th, 2009, 19:05

Short story: book a rail ticket from Hampi to Goa through your home-stay/guest house OR well in advance from a railway station.

While in Hampi, some travel agents told me they could not get me on a train to Goa, except one: Guru Travels, near the temple at the end of the bazaar, where the agent was certain that he could get me a ticket.

I paid 450 INR for a sleeper class ticket, when the price should have been 161 INR plus a small commission. Speaking to other travellers, they paid up to 150 INR extra. When I questioned the agent, he said he charged an extra 200 for the takal quota and 90 for his commission. He said he could not guarantee a seat with a RLWL of 181, which is where I was on the list, so with the extra fee, I was bumped up to the first position on the list. The takal quota fee should have been written on the ticket, but it wasn't. I didn't argue further, but maybe I should have.

The seat I was assigned on my wait-list confirmed ticket was not valid when I boarded the train, as someone else had this seat. An Indian man said there was no need to book an actual seat because there was always available spaces. Then he said there was no need for me to have paid the takal quota fee, either, and that the agency likely pocketed the 200 INR fee.

As stated in the beginning, to avoid this scam: book in advance or ask your hotel/guest house to do this for you.

steven_ber · Feb 24th, 2009, 21:21

There's a chance this wasn't a scam, just someone who didn't really know the rail booking system all that well.

There's a lot of confusion in Hampi regarding waitlists, this is because Hospet is on part of a quota called a remote location quota, so the waitlist is a RLWL, and these waitlists don't generally move a lot, so when a person sees a RLWL 181 they naturally worry, however, the RLWL 181 ticket would have likely became a confirmed ticket.

This is because the Howrah-Vasko express still uses the side middle berths, but they don't appear on the railway computer, so there's 9 extra berths per carriage, and there are maybe 13 Sleeper Class carriages on the train, then there are all the unused quotas (Military and many others), when these quotas aren't used, the unused tickets are used to reduce the waitlist, anyway, my friend had a RLWL of about 170, and this got confirmed a day later.

Getting back to the agent, A Tatkal ticket is only allowed for passengers travelling from the originating station to the terminating station, so in this case a ticket would be issued from Calcutta to Goa (or maybe from Vijayawada as the train used to terminate there), so this would increase the cost, and then a Tatkal fee needs to be paid on top of that (But I thought the Tatkal fee for SL Class was Rs150), so I can see why the ticket would cost that much.

As to someone sitting in your seat, were they supposed to be there? and why were they there? (A few Indians have tried it on with me, assuming I would be confused about Indian Railways and their rules, they chose the wrong person.

)

When a Tatkal ticket is booked, it's booked from the starting station (EG, Howrah, Calcutta), but then you can change the boarding station to Hospet (during booking), but if this agent forgot to change the boarding station (or didn't know how to, or that he could), then the TTE (Train captain) would have assumed you hadn't turned up at Howrah and given your seat/berth to someone else.

You mentioned that you were first in the queue on the Tatkal ticket, so can I assume your waitlist number contained the following.....CKWL 1 (Tatkal waitlist position 1)

GuinnessGirl · Feb 25th, 2009, 17:24

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps the agent was simply being cautious.

To answer some of your questions, the agent specifically noted the boarding station as Hospet Junction. He only told me my 200 INR tatkal quota charge bumped me to the front of the queue, but my ticket actually said: RLWL181/RLWL130 (or something of the sort). I had booked a Tatkal ticket in the past, but the ticket showed the Tatkal quota printed on it. This is why I started to get suspicious. Also because none of the other travellers who were wait-listed had to pay a Tatkal fare.

As for my seat number, it was written by hand, along with the word "confirmed." It's possible the man who had my seat simply wanted to be in that place and didn't want to move, since he was on the train at a previous station.

All in all, it was a confusing rail booking and I had never previously had difficulty booking a ticket, or understanding the fees involved with a ticket.

steven_ber · Feb 25th, 2009, 19:08

Sounds like he's managed to get you on the emergency quota, but it's definately not the Tatkal quota, or any waitlist number would be preceded by CKWL.

I had a long conversation with a hotel manager who also booked tickets, and he says that most agents have to go through Hospet agents, and those agents can be awful to anyone (including other agents) who don't understand the reservation system.

I bet most of the other tourists with long waitlist numbers got seats.

I wonder what will happen when Indian Railways stops allowing the side middle berths to be used, tourists will have a hell of a time getting reservations between Goa and Hospet.

Did anyone on the train try to fine you for anything? (sitting by the open carriage door, smoking, being cute etc.)

jackstrawdc · Feb 28th, 2009, 19:24

In case you weren't aware, you can book these seats yourself via the internet. Two caveats: 1) you need to create a profile, and 2) it seems you can ONLY pay by indian credit card, or american express. I can't figure out a way to pay by a regular ol' visa. Luckily, I have amex.

You can get a full refund, less a nominal fee, if you are still waitlisted when you ask for the refund. In fact, it's entirely automated and you don't need to call anyone or stand in line. It just shows up on your credit card. If you are not on the waitlist, you forfeit about 25% of your ticket value. Since things are cheap here, that's a small price to pay to keep your travel options open.

jackstrawdc · Feb 28th, 2009, 19:24

Sorry, the link is www.irctc.co.in.

Feb 24th, 2009, 19:05	#1
GuinnessGirl Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 7	Using Agents in Hampi to book Train Tickets Short story: book a rail ticket from Hampi to Goa through your home-stay/guest house OR well in advance from a railway station. While in Hampi, some travel agents told me they could not get me on a train to Goa, except one: Guru Travels, near the temple at the end of the bazaar, where the agent was certain that he could get me a ticket. I paid 450 INR for a sleeper class ticket, when the price should have been 161 INR plus a small commission. Speaking to other travellers, they paid up to 150 INR extra. When I questioned the agent, he said he charged an extra 200 for the takal quota and 90 for his commission. He said he could not guarantee a seat with a RLWL of 181, which is where I was on the list, so with the extra fee, I was bumped up to the first position on the list. The takal quota fee should have been written on the ticket, but it wasn't. I didn't argue further, but maybe I should have. The seat I was assigned on my wait-list confirmed ticket was not valid when I boarded the train, as someone else had this seat. An Indian man said there was no need to book an actual seat because there was always available spaces. Then he said there was no need for me to have paid the takal quota fee, either, and that the agency likely pocketed the 200 INR fee. As stated in the beginning, to avoid this scam: book in advance or ask your hotel/guest house to do this for you.

Feb 24th, 2009, 21:21	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,567	There's a chance this wasn't a scam, just someone who didn't really know the rail booking system all that well. There's a lot of confusion in Hampi regarding waitlists, this is because Hospet is on part of a quota called a remote location quota, so the waitlist is a RLWL, and these waitlists don't generally move a lot, so when a person sees a RLWL 181 they naturally worry, however, the RLWL 181 ticket would have likely became a confirmed ticket. This is because the Howrah-Vasko express still uses the side middle berths, but they don't appear on the railway computer, so there's 9 extra berths per carriage, and there are maybe 13 Sleeper Class carriages on the train, then there are all the unused quotas (Military and many others), when these quotas aren't used, the unused tickets are used to reduce the waitlist, anyway, my friend had a RLWL of about 170, and this got confirmed a day later. Getting back to the agent, A Tatkal ticket is only allowed for passengers travelling from the originating station to the terminating station, so in this case a ticket would be issued from Calcutta to Goa (or maybe from Vijayawada as the train used to terminate there), so this would increase the cost, and then a Tatkal fee needs to be paid on top of that (But I thought the Tatkal fee for SL Class was Rs150), so I can see why the ticket would cost that much. As to someone sitting in your seat, were they supposed to be there? and why were they there? (A few Indians have tried it on with me, assuming I would be confused about Indian Railways and their rules, they chose the wrong person. ) When a Tatkal ticket is booked, it's booked from the starting station (EG, Howrah, Calcutta), but then you can change the boarding station to Hospet (during booking), but if this agent forgot to change the boarding station (or didn't know how to, or that he could), then the TTE (Train captain) would have assumed you hadn't turned up at Howrah and given your seat/berth to someone else. You mentioned that you were first in the queue on the Tatkal ticket, so can I assume your waitlist number contained the following.....CKWL 1 (Tatkal waitlist position 1) __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information. RAC & Waitlists explained.

Feb 25th, 2009, 17:24	#3
GuinnessGirl Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 7	Answers to Questions Thanks for the reply. Perhaps the agent was simply being cautious. To answer some of your questions, the agent specifically noted the boarding station as Hospet Junction. He only told me my 200 INR tatkal quota charge bumped me to the front of the queue, but my ticket actually said: RLWL181/RLWL130 (or something of the sort). I had booked a Tatkal ticket in the past, but the ticket showed the Tatkal quota printed on it. This is why I started to get suspicious. Also because none of the other travellers who were wait-listed had to pay a Tatkal fare. As for my seat number, it was written by hand, along with the word "confirmed." It's possible the man who had my seat simply wanted to be in that place and didn't want to move, since he was on the train at a previous station. All in all, it was a confusing rail booking and I had never previously had difficulty booking a ticket, or understanding the fees involved with a ticket.

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Feb 25th, 2009, 19:08	#4
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: South of England. Posts: 11,567	Sounds like he's managed to get you on the emergency quota, but it's definately not the Tatkal quota, or any waitlist number would be preceded by CKWL. I had a long conversation with a hotel manager who also booked tickets, and he says that most agents have to go through Hospet agents, and those agents can be awful to anyone (including other agents) who don't understand the reservation system. I bet most of the other tourists with long waitlist numbers got seats. I wonder what will happen when Indian Railways stops allowing the side middle berths to be used, tourists will have a hell of a time getting reservations between Goa and Hospet. Did anyone on the train try to fine you for anything? (sitting by the open carriage door, smoking, being cute etc.)

Feb 28th, 2009, 19:24	#5
jackstrawdc Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Washington, DC/Delhi Posts: 22	In case you weren't aware, you can book these seats yourself via the internet. Two caveats: 1) you need to create a profile, and 2) it seems you can ONLY pay by indian credit card, or american express. I can't figure out a way to pay by a regular ol' visa. Luckily, I have amex. You can get a full refund, less a nominal fee, if you are still waitlisted when you ask for the refund. In fact, it's entirely automated and you don't need to call anyone or stand in line. It just shows up on your credit card. If you are not on the waitlist, you forfeit about 25% of your ticket value. Since things are cheap here, that's a small price to pay to keep your travel options open.