India trains

Can anyone tell me do I need to book trains in advance of taking them round India or can I just buy tickets as I need them? Can you also tell me what the air conditioned class is called? Do you get tickets by seat number?

India trains

You can buy tickets at booking offices and stations, but in peak season its better to book in advance and get an e-ticket for the more popular trains.

www.indianrail.gov.in

www.irctc.co.in =%26gt; booking.

There are 3 AC classes, AC First (Cabin), AC II tier, AC III Tier.

AC II tier is best, not as expensive as a Cabin, more privacy than AC III Tier. If that is not available, then 3 tier is good enough.

Do NOT book the unairconditioned (Sleeper) Class.

RatnaPrasad has a nice Inside page on railways, if you look it up.

India trains

Buy your tickets on-line,in advance, when you can! When you get there will sometimes be too late,depending on which train you wish to take. Though if you have no definite itinerary, advanced booking will be hard to say the least.Long queues at the train station, with ';NO queing system'; can be quite daunting. Through a tour operator you will be charged a lot more for the tickets

THE ONE GOLDEN RULE . . .

Do not show the tickets to people who aproach you on the platform asking to see your tickets.Ask for ID first and even then be wary. They will definitely disappear before your very eyes.You have been warned !

E-tickets need to be backed up by ID verification, which does reduce theft. I was only last week told E-tickets were no good,and that I would need to change it at the kiosk, by some ne%26#39;er do well.The truth was E-tickets do work, but were no good to him.

Good luck.

Chris

I would also add that it dependas if you are travelling alone or not. The more people you are in your group the the greater the need to book ahead if you want to sit/sleep close to each other.

Indian Railways FAQ

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293860-c63603/India:鈥?/a>