Figuring Out India Rail Travel
Taking the train in India can be a confusing experience to say the least. We talked about our first India rail experience in a post a few weeks ago and since then we have learned a few more things that we thought we should share with you. You can read about how to book a train ticket from the India Rail office at our post India Rail Travel Tips and Tricks
The thing about traveling by train in India is that it is always overbooked and very busy. You would be very wise to know your itinerary and book ahead. Unfortunately for Dave and I, we are on a very loose schedule and like to go with the flow. We never know how long we want to stay in a place, so we don’t book travel ahead of time. This has been the cause of many a headache here in India for us.
But we have started to manage to figure the old India Rail system out!
Here are some tips to make your train travel smoother through India. In a previous blog post we told you about how to book a ticket at the train station and that is still the same. We haven’t learned anything new. But we have learned a lot about booking a train ticket online at the India Rail website. And we have learned all about how to board the train, so here goes…
1. go to http://indianrail.gov.in/ to get your train number, information on what trains go to each station and the station codes
2. After you have all of the train information for your destination, go to http://www.irctc.co.in/ to book your train ticket. You can choose from several classes, but 2AC and 3Ac are your best choices for overnight trains. SL is a sleeper class and also a good choice, but you will not have air conditioning and less security.
sleeper class - general seating
3. Many countries have problems with their credit cards working. We thought that it was just us being Canadian, but we talked to others from the U.K. that had the same problem. You can get around this. When they ask you what payment system you want to use, choose Axis PG as your method of payment for Canadians. For other countries, you will just have to keep trying the different methods of payment from the list to see what works for you. You will find something that works. If we did, anyone can.
4. Unless you book your train well ahead of time, you will most likely have a wait list. If the wait list isn’t too long, you have a good chance of having your rail ticket confirmed on the day of departure. Especially if you are on 3AC. 2AC can be a problem because there are less seats in that class.
5. Your reservation will have a PNR number. If you have an unconfirmed train ticket (meaning your bought your ticket but you are on a wait list), you will need to check this on your travel date to see where you are sitting and to see if your seat is confirmed. You can check this on the website http://indianrail.gov.in/ You can also check by telephone, just ask your hotel reception what number to call in that city. It will also be on your eticket or railway ticket.
6. A confirmed train ticket will have your seat number already printed on it. A Wait List ticket will not, but when you check your PNR number, it will give you a seat and car number.
7. At the train station, you need to find what track and platform you will be waiting on it. Trains are very long and some stations are very confusing with multiple tracks. Knowing where you need to be to get on the train will save a lot of headaches and keep you from missing your train all together.
8. To find this out, go to the computer or board to find your platform. Look for your train number and class on your train ticket and then match it to the board. It will then tell you the platform where you will be boarding. .
9. Know the name of the station and the stop before yours. Most trains don’t announce stops so you have to keep a lookout.
10. Sometimes train stations in India are very basic and they will only have computer print outs stapled to a board. You will be able to find your seat number and car number but you may not know what platform you will be leaving from. The best advice that we can give you is, find a spot in the middle of the platform and keep an eye out for your car number as the train passes. Then get ready to run. Normally 2 and 3 AC are at the front or the back of the train. This can be a problem because if you are standing at the front, your car may be at the back or visaversa. We reiterate, Trains in India are very long and if you are at the wrong end of the train when it approached, you will have a very long run to your car.
Good luck with your India Rail travel experience!
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Hope this helps.
We received some great advice in comments on our other post, check it out!
28 Responses to Figuring Out India Rail Travel
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Online hotel reservations
i was never successful in booking my own ticket through that website (when i was in india last year)… i always end up buying it through a travel agency… maybe it’s my credit card or something…
great advice for travelers to india
.-= flip´s last blog ..Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package =-.
Hi Flip, we had troubles too until we found the right portal that would accept our card. At first we thought it was the Canadian Cards, but eventually we found out that it was just the sight. They really need to make it easier, it shouldn’t be this difficult:)
Hi
In case you are not able to book your tickets on Irctc.co.in you can try out the partner websites like cleartrip.com or makemytrip.com (or any other Indian travel portal). the booking and payment procedure is lot more easier and user friendly.
Cheers
Sid
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Sounds like you get Indian Rail Experts! Thanks for the informations!
.-= Melvin´s last undefined ..(Enjoy 10 returned posts for Christmas) =-.
I absolutely love traveling by train but it certainly sounds like in India it’s not for the faint of heart – if someone didn’t know exactly what to do they could be out of luck…..it’s really great that you’re posting this so the rest of us can learn what to do!
.-= Trisha Miller´s last blog ..Suzy: Week 19 Goals-Tracking Your Site Searches =-.
Hi Trisha, I love traveling by train too. We are going to go first class one of these days, most likely in Darjeeling. I am sure that is going to be amazing!
We struggle with Indian rail tickets and so does my family in India. So, don’t feel bad about trying to figure it out. And, these are great tips! Happy New Year in India! We’ll be there next week – can’t wait to see my family in Chennai.
.-= Akila´s last blog ..lavender ginger creme brulee =-.
Hey Akila! Thanks that makes us feel a lot better. We are struggling for sure, but at least people can learn from our mistakes and from the few things that we have learned so far. Good to know that everyone has a bit of a problem themselves.
Akila, have a great trip back to India, how long will you be here. We are thinking of flying from Calucutta to Sri Lanka for awhile and then will be flying back to Chenai. We have to wait for the weather to get warmer in the North and could use some beach time!
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“Then, get ready to run”. Love it!
India sounds like one of the more stressful transportation experiences.
Thanks guys1
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I great tip is to use http://www.cleartrip.com/ We never had a problem getting rail tickets and they only charge a small fee, which is worth it for the peace of mind. Very easy site to use it saved us in India!
.-= Lianna´s last blog ..Hanging out with the Hanging Coffins =-.
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thankyou thankyou thankyou. i tried booking over a dozen times till i tried the one you recommended.
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It is very quite interesting post on India Rail Travel Tips and Tricks. thanks for sharing. Train system is complex in India but you can book your tickets online site so that you can find useful tips on India Rail Travel.
Thanks Jaipur Hotel. It is true, the online booking has helped a lot. One suggestion we have to people that are travelling to India is that if you are organized enough, you should book as far in advance as possible. Trains fill up fast.
it is quite sad that most train stations these days are horrendously overloaded ”
Just to let people know, I am using Cleartrip.com to book trains and the site is working great and accepting my credit card. Plus the site is user friendly.
.-= Shawn´s last blog ..The City of Bombay India and the Adjustment Phase =-.
White Christmas in snow there , but here in Crete is just hot Christmas with 23 degrees Celsius . Merry christmas any way !
it is quite sad that most train stations these days are horrendously overloaded
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I thinks that jaipur always main part of attraction in india and i enjoyed in this city via travelling with railway.