You are preparing your trip to India and you want to live the experience of traveling by train. You have read several articles about the trains in India but you are not sure what type of train to choose, type of ticket and you still have a thousand doubts about security in this transport.
It is normal, it has happened to all of us on our first trip. In this guide from Mi Viaje a la India I explain everything you need to know about the trains and their categories, the types of tickets, how to buy them and a lot of other information and tips to make your train trip a success.
Train travel in India
Traveling by train in India is one of the most authentic experiences you can have. Millions of people move around the country every day by train and it is the cheapest and most efficient way to travel.
India's railway network, a legacy of the British colonial times, is one of the most extensive in the world, connecting every corner of the country.
Types of trains in India and their classes
I will classify trains into 2 types, those with berths and those with seats. You have to choose the one that best suits your needs and this will depend on the type of trip, its duration, and whether you want to travel in peace and quiet or make your train journey a way to immerse yourself in the culture of the region and socialize with their people.
I will explain you in detail the characteristics of each class for both sleeper and couchette trains:
Trains in India - Seat cars (chair train)
These trains are ideal for fast, short, daytime journeys lasting between 2 and 6 hours. There are 3 classes:
EC - Executive Chair Class (AC Executive Chair Class)
This option is the highest quality and therefore the most expensive option.It consists of two rows of two seats each. It has air conditioning and plugs in the window seats (to share). This category is not available on all trains. It also includes food service, on arrival you are offered a bottle of water and then snacks and local dishes are served during the journey.
Luggage can be stored in the overhead racks (above the seats).
CC - Air-conditioned seating (AC Chair Class)
It consists of two rows of 3 and 2 seats respectively. The seats are reclining, it has air conditioning and a plug in the window seat. Although food is not included, there is a fairly continuous service with trolley in case you wish to buy something.
Luggage, as in EC, can be stored in the racks at the top.
2S - Second Class Seat (2nd Class Seat- second seating)
This is the cheapest option to travel by train. It has fans instead of air conditioning and consists of 2 rows of 3 seats. You can buy ticket with or without assigned seat. If you choose a ticket without a seat you risk not finding any available and you will have to travel standing up. These cars are usually quite crowded and it is common to see people sleeping in the aisle, on the luggage and in seats of 4 people can sit 7 or 8 passengers. Get ready to make friends and don't be surprised when a mother of the family offers you to try some of her tasty homemade dishes.
Like sleeper class, this is the best option if you want to experience the reality of trains in India and socialize, but certainly not the most comfortable option.
Trains in India: Sleeper Cars
Air-conditioned First Class - AC1 First / Executive Class
This option is the highest quality and therefore the most expensive. Ideal for those seeking comfort and privacy but not the best option if you want to have an authentic experience and socialize on the train. Please note that the AC1 category does not exist on all trains, and on those that do, there is only one carriage. It consists of enclosed compartments with 4 berths (2 upper and 2 lower) or 2 bunk beds (some have a private washroom). The compartment is separated from the aisle by a door, has power sockets, bedding and air conditioning.
Second class air-conditioned - AC2 AC 2 Tier Sleeper (2AC)
This category is very similar to AC1 with the difference that the compartments are separated from the corridor by a curtain.
Consists of compartments with 4 bunk beds with electrical outlets, bedding and air conditioning. This category also has 2 berths (lower and upper) in the aisle and these have less privacy. Long distance trains usually have 1 or 2 cars in this category.
Air-conditioned third class - AC3 AC 3 Tier Sleeper
The compartments are the same size as in AC2 but have 6 berths (on 3 levels) so the space per passenger is much smaller. This category also has 2 berths (lower and upper) in the aisle.
They usually have electrical sockets, air conditioning and curtains but do not always include bedding.
Sleeper Class (SL)
The compartments are the same as those of AC3 but with the difference that they have fans instead of air conditioning.
This option is the cheapest option for trains with couchette and a favorite for backpackers or travelers who want to see the country from the inside and have direct contact with its people. Be aware that the bathrooms are usually quite dirty.
You can buy a ticket without an assigned berth, so during the day the number of travelers multiplies and even if you have a ticket with an assigned berth, you will have to share space and your berth as a seat with other travelers. If you intend to sleep or lie down during the day this category is not the best option.
There is no bedding available so I recommend you to carry a sheet or blanket in your luggage, a sleeping bag may be advisable for cold periods or areas of the country. I do not recommend this category for your first train trip in India unless you are an adventurer without limits...
Types of seats and how to choose the best one
Once you have decided which category or class you are going to buy, you must choose the seat or type of seat. Here are some tips:
On trains with berths There are 4 types of beds: Upper Bed, Middle Bed, Lower Bed and Aisle Bed. Whenever possible, choose the upper bunk. You will have more peace of mind as you will not have to share your space during the day and you will have your belongings with you (depending on the size of your belongings). During the day the train fills up with people who have unassigned tickets so the middle bunks are closed and the lower bunks are used as seats to accommodate 4 or more people. Under the lower berth there is a space for suitcases so I recommend traveling with a chain and padlock to secure your suitcase (normally this space is used by the passenger in the lower berth but it can always be negotiated).
In the armchair trains,I personally like the window seat because if you want to sleep, you won't be disturbed by passengers coming in and out of the seats next to you. Besides, the electric socket to charge your gadgets is in this seat, but be careful, it's for sharing! But if you are very active and you do not stop moving around the train, you will be better off in an aisle seat.
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Types of train tickets in India
Confirmed General Ticket (CNF)
This is the general ticket type. When you book the train in a specific time and category and there is availability, you will receive a confirmation email directly with your confirmed ticket. I recommend you to print it or download it in case you don't have internet access during the trip.
This type of ticket sells out super fast.
RAC - Reservation against cancellation
When general or confirmed tickets are sold out, RAC tickets are available, which is basically a ticket where if someone cancels you can take their seat.
It is important to know that with a RAC ticket you can board the train even if you do not have an assigned seat. You can check the status of your ticket online with your PNR code or in the listings posted in the cars and stations. If you don't get an assigned seat because no one cancels, you will have to find a seat where you can.
Waiting List (WL) - Waiting list
When the RAC ticket quota is exhausted, the waiting list ticket sale is opened, i.e. you will be on the waiting list. You will still be sent an email with your ticket but it is not valid for travel until you receive a confirmed ticket (if you are lucky). As people cancel their reservations, the waiting list will be smaller and you will be closer to getting a ticket.
With your pager or PNR code you can check where you are on the waiting list. Cancellations are usually made at the last minute so you will not know in advance if your ticket is confirmed or not. You can also check the status of your ticket at the INQUIRY counters and on the passenger name lists posted on the boards and carriages.
Remember that with a RAC ticket you can board the train even if you do not have a confirmed seat but with a WL ticket you are not entitled to board the train until you have a confirmed ticket.
Taktal
Taktal in Hindi means "immediate". These tickets go on sale one day before departure at 10 am and have a supplement of between 100 and 300INR. This type of ticket is not available for all classes (1AC, FC and 2S are not available). It has to be purchased directly at a ticket window at a train station and you must have your passport to get your ticket.
Tourist Quota
There are a limited number of tickets reserved for foreigners. This type of ticket is only available for tickets in air-conditioned carriages and you need to have a tourist visa to benefit from this fare. You can buy them directly from the tourist office at the major stations or from ClearTrip.
How to buy train tickets in India.
Here I will tell you several options to buy train tickets but I already warn you that the easiest and most comfortable way is by to buy online.
How to buy a train ticket in India at the railway station
Buy train tickets at the International Tourist Bureau (International Tourist Bureau)
This service is available at the main train stations in the country, mostly in large cities. Depending on the station you may be attended at a ticket counter but in some stations you have a private air-conditioned room. You will be attended by an English speaking agent.
Buy train tickets at the station, at the general ticket counter (without Tourist Bureau).
You should have no problem buying your ticket at the counter, but you will have to queue with the rest of the passengers. You will have to fill out a form indicating the station of origin and destination, the dates and the class you want. Once you submit the form, you will be given your tickets. At the ticket counter you will be informed of what you need but you may get someone who does not speak English well or you may find it difficult to understand their accent so I recommend you to do your previous search for trains and schedules in the Indian Railways App and take everything written down on paper in case the communication at the ticket counter gets complicated.
Buy train tickets online
Buy train ticket on the official IRCTC web site
Access the IRTC official website at this link. You can register with either an Indian or an international phone number, but in some cases international numbers do not receive the confirmation message. If this happens to you, you will have to wait until you arrive in India and repeat the process once you have your Indian phone number. The process is a bit tedious as they ask for a lot of information.
Buy train tickets in India with ClearTrip
It's super simple and the commission they charge is minimal. You will need to be registered and have a profile on IRTCTC to complete the booking, so don't forget to register on the official railroad website.
Buy train tickets from 12Go.Asia
I consider this to be the easiest and quickest method, they charge you a small commission but when you buy your ticket on the website of 12Go.Asia save time and headaches with the IRTC website.
Railway stations in India
Train stations tend to be extremely busy places where you will find crowds of people. Most stations are very dynamic but not very comfortable or intuitive. In many of the stations you will have to go through the security check before entering the platform area and you may encounter queues.
You must look for your train number on the screens to know which platform to go to. Then the next task is to find your carriage. There are trains that stop for a very short time at each station so don't wait for the train to arrive to find the location of your carriage, better ask to wait already in the approximate area.
Train and station security in India
Generally train stations are safe but they are the key point for many scams and tourist swindles in which you will not be in danger but you will get dizzy and lose some unnecessary money. I recommend you to read the article about the most popular scams in India.
Always keep your luggage and other belongings with you and don't trust extremely friendly and insistent people. As I always say: use common sense and intuition in every situation and stay away from those you don't trust.
Train delays in India
Train delays are a common occurrence in India. In this link you can see in real time the location of the train, the delay and the time it has stopped at the previous stations. In the web section at the end of the article I leave the link to other interesting websites for your train trip.
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Be aware that train delays can delay your arrival at your destination and if you have another train or flight to catch it can cost you stress and money. Don't forget to travel with travel insurance to be protected against these unforeseen events.
Food on trains in India
The food (included in some categories) served on trains in India may not be to your liking and the truth is that with the price of train tickets you can't ask for much either.
Trains in India do not have a restaurant or cafeteria car, but don't worry as you will have catering service throughout the trip. At each stop, you will be met by lots of vendors who will offer you local snacks,Masala chaiand drinks non stop.. If you make a long trip you will see how the food of these street vendors varies considerably depending on the geographical areas. You will also have the opportunity to taste homemade food from the families near your seat, in India they love to share their food and with foreigners they have a special hospitality and attention.
Don't forget to buy water before nightfall as there are no vendors during sleeping hours and you will most likely need water.
Toilets on trains in India
All carriages usually have 2 toilets. I recommend always visiting one before boarding the train to reduce the number of times you visit the restroom during the trip. In the first classes they are usually clean at the beginning of the route but in the lower classes they are often not the best experience. So don't overdo it on the drinks!
Masala chai: the ritual of train travel in India
After each stop, new vendors will come up but you will always hear the same song "Chai, Chai, Garam Chai!". The Masala chai or spiced tea is the star beverage in India and is the spice up any trip through the country. Tea time is one of my favorite moments when I travel by train.
Tips for traveling by train in India
- Book in advance as due to high demand, they tend to fill up quickly. Short distance trains can be booked 60 days in advance and long distance trains 120 days in advance.
- Do not go with just enough time. I recommend arriving at least half an hour in advance, but if it can be a little more, so much the better.
- Be careful with your belongings and pay attention as it is a star place for scams and swindles.
- If you are traveling with several friends and want to travel together in the same compartment of the carriage, you do not have the option to request it at the time of the online purchase but people are usually nice and if you ask them they will change compartments so that you can travel together.
The Indian Railway App
If you are going to travel by train, the Indian Railway App is indispensable and will make your route much easier. You can see the schedules, fares, buy tickets and you can also download it for offline viewing.
It is ideal to locate you with the stops of your journey during the trip and not to skip your stop.
Luxury trains in India
If you want to see India like a real Maharaj, you can also do it by train. Luxury trains in India have private rooms, full bathroom and all kinds of high-end services as if it were a 5-star hotel on wheels. These trains have only fixed departure routes and are complete circuits.
Websites and links of interest for your train trip
Web to check your position on the waiting list
Website to buy train tickets with IRCTC
Web to review the list of stations and stop time at each one.
Web to see real-time train delays and stop times at previous stations
I hope this guide to trains in India will be useful and will make it easier for you to organize your trip, enjoy the journey and don't forget to try the masala chai on board and socialize with the people on your trip!
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