0
If you want to plan a rigid itinerary and be places on a given date and save time, then booking ahead is a good idea.
In my opinion this is a better choice on short visits to India but many want to plan long trips too
Here's why booking ahead can be a better choice.
1. Standing in line at train stations can be a frustrating experience, apart from the major Metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and a handful of other places, foreign tourist cells usually share their services with other special cases like army travelers, special rail warrants etc. etc.
So standing in line can eat up the minutes, along with the time spent actually getting to the station and back.
For some the jousting competition in the ques at the train station are all part of the fun. People will constantly attempt to jump in before you, and you will need to stand your ground constantly.
This can be a little tiresome for some.
Agents can often book tickets for you but you can't always guarantee getting the train you want using a agent.
If the train/trains or class of travel you specify are booked out then the agent will do one of two things, he will not book you on any train, which often means another day wasted.
(it's usually a good idea to discuss what you want done if the class train/class is booked out)
Or, he will book you on any old train or class, which can lead to some mighty uncomfortable train travel, as you'll likely end up on the least popular train, which leaves at some ungodly hour, takes a much longer time to cover the distance or you'll end up with a class you hadn't reckoned on.
*Many agent cannot book you in the foreign tourist quota!*
2. Trains DO book out,especially during the summer (April-June) and winter (December-January) breaks long distance trains often book out days, or even weeks ahead and intermediate stations often have very small ticket allocations, which also book out very fast.
Tatkal and foreign tourist quotas can help in the even of your train being booked out. but contrary to popular conception these are not some kind of magic pass that will produce tickets out of thin air.
Foreign quotas on any given train are small, 18 to 24 berths shared between all the various classes.
Everybody and his dog knows about these foreign tourist quota tickets and often foreign travelers will not even look at the general quota, instead they will book directly through the foreign tourist quota, and often days or weeks ahead of departure.
The result is the foreign tourist quota also sells out.
Quite a few trains don't even carry a foreign tourist quota.
Takal is another option, should all else fail, however these also have limitations, they are relatively expensive as you can only book for the entire running distance of the train and the surcharge is 75 to 300 Rupees depending on the class of travel and season.
So say you board a train at Vasai Road to Madgaon, on a train that runs from Delhi to Trivandrum. You will be required to pay the entire fare from Delhi to Trivandrum.
Here's how that breaks down in costs
On the 0432 NZM KCVL RAJ SP
Normal fare from Vasai Road to Madgaon a distance of 764 Kilometers
Cost in 3 tier AC = Rs 941
Same train Vasai Road to Madgaon a distance of 764 Kilometers, using the Tatkal Quota
Cost in 3 tier AC = Rs 2710 (in High season)
Nearly three times as much!!!
The Tatkal is also only about 10 percent of the total seating on any given train, as such this also sells out fast!
There are also booking rules, which are as follows as follows
Tatkal tickets can be booked only from *source station* to *destination station* and from remote/intermediate station having Tatkal quota to destination with boarding facility from intermediate station. ( there are very few of these)
You are also not allow to use concessions (like the 60 plus discount) using this quota!!!
*There are no foreign tourist or Tatkal quotas in First Class AC*
3. Waiting lists are in no way shape or form predictable.
You can take the option to go on a waiting list for, with this you are issued with a ticket but no berth allocation.
With this ticket, *YOU ARE NOT allowed to board the train* until your, ticket has been confirmed and berth/seat has been allocated.
Only with *RAC waiting listed tickets* may you enter the train, the ticket inspector will then allocate you a seat/berth, be aware in this scenario a group may get bunks allocated in different parts on the train, *This ticket also does NOT guarantee you a berth, only a seat!!*
*And you are only assured of reserved sitting accommodation on the seats at the side of the coach!!!*
Most the waiting list tickets only become confirmed in the case of cancellations, tales of massive quotas for army and government on every train are just that TALES, some trains will have a tiny quota for this and if unused will free up a few bunks nothing more and not every train has these quotas!!!
*There is no waiting list option in 1st Ac Class*
4. Travelling without reservation.
In theory for short distances this is a viable way to travel, however there are rules which can be enforced at the Ticket inspectors descresion!
You need a general class/unreserved ticket to board a train, this is a minimum requirement and needs to be purchased before boarding the train!
Following the rules with this, you are required to enter the general class or unreserved carraige. whilst many including me have just boarded the train in the other classes and then upgraded their tickets.
However the rules clearly state that you should travel in the unreserved compartment until you are able to upgrade your ticket, this can be done on the train or platform via the ticket inspector!
Failure to follow the rules can result in a stiff fine
On long distance sleeper trains this mode of traveling is foolhardy and really shouldn't be contemplated
There is simply no way of knowing how a waiting list will pan out on some trains you might get confirmed on a waiting listed ticket of 130 on other you might not get confirmed on a ticket with a waiting list number of only 10
The only guidelines that can be factored in are that ordinary sleeper class travel affords a better chance of high number getting confirmed due to the sheer number of berth available and therfor the chances of cancellations are higher
On 2 Tier AC the chances of being confirmed are much lower, as the number of berth is much lower than ordinary Sleeper..Again these are guideline only and not a science!!!!
No cancellations means no berths
4."You lose flexibility when booking ahead...."
In principle you have just as much flexibility (albeit it for a small charge) as you do by booking as you go.
Tickets are readily refundable in India so after checking that trains are available to the new destination/date you chose on the spur of the moment, you can cancel the ticket/tickets you bought, for a very small cancellation fee in order to stay few days longer someplace, or to do a spur journey and rejoin your planned journey somewhere else on your planned itinerary.
So after the initial charge you join the race for reservation just as you would if you were booking as you go!
Here are the cancellation fees!
*(a) If a ticket is presented for cancellation more than one day in advance of the scheduled departure of the train (excluding the day of journey) cancellation charge shall be deducted at the flat rate of Rs. 70/- for A.C First Class/Executive Class, Rs. 60/- for A.C. 2 Tier sleeper class/ A.C. 3 Tier sleeper class/ First class/A.C Chair Car, Rs. 40/- for Sleeper class and Rs. 20/- for Second class.*
*(
If the ticket is presented for cancellation within one day in advance (excluding the day of journey) and up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charges shall be 25% of the fare subject to the min. flat rate mentioned in clause (a).**(9c) If the ticket is presented for cancellation within four hours before the scheduled departure of the train and up to -*
*(i) Three hours, when the ticket is for a destination station up to 200 KM.*
*(ii) Six hours, when the ticket is for a destination station of more than 200 KM but up to 500 KM., and*
*(iii) Twelve hours , when the ticket is for a destination station of more than 500 KM.,*
*After the actual departure of the train, cancellation charges shall be 50 % of the fare subject to the min. flat rate mentioned in clause (a). Provided that for night train leaving between 21:00 hours and 06:00 hours (actual departures), refunds shall be admissible at the station within the time limit specified above or within two hours after the opening of reservation office, whichever is later.*
5. Booking ahead give you a far better choice of trains in which to travel in, premium trains especially long distance ones book out faster than the slow trains which leave at awkward times of night/morning
The higher classes also book out quicker for the reasons I've mentioned above.
*The further in advance you book the more likelihood you have of getting both the train and the class of travel you want.*
Booking as you go is really a better way to go on longer journeys, though rigid panning upto three months in advance can still be done.
Here are a few pointers on the plus points of booking as you go.
1. Booking as you go, affords the traveler flexibility without the surcharges, you're free to hang around until you feel like moving (when a train becomes available)
totally change you plans and head off somewhere you hadn't considered without having to go to the station and cancel a single or whole clutch of prebooked tickets.
All you need is the Trains at a Glance rail Guide, or a cybercafe to see what the possibilities are.
The link provided below will also let you see if there are berths available on the your planned day of travel and in the class you want just click on the blue Av next to the train you want under the class you wish to travel in
http://www.erail.in/
2. Booking as you go enables you to travel with the buddies you might collect along the way, even in the same compartment.
3. It allows you to decide your +train travel comfort zone+ in term of AC 2 tier or the crazy fun of ordinary sleeper, based on experience (of course you can change this even on a planned journey but it's a case of canceling tickets then re booking in a new class) you may decide to up your class of travel or get dirty under the fingernails in ordinary sleeper class.
4. Booking as you go is easy enough, just go to the station or get an agent to book your tickets, you'll need the train number and if you want to use the foreign tourist quota your passport a ATM slip, or foreign exchange encashment certificate. ( the receipt from the place you cashed you cash or travelers cheques, any one will do, even one months old!!!)
All that is required other than that is a bit of patience at the train stations, or finding a decent agent to get it all done for you. Ask your hotel even, they can sometime arrange for tickets to be purchased on your behalf, or recommend an agent who can do this for you!
These days you can even do it online with a credit card, here are just two that do online booking of train tickets
IRCTC
Cleartrip
Some care is needed when using credit cards at cyber cafes, member midnitetoker has put together a very comprehensive security package to keep your surfing safe you can find it here!
cafeKlysm
So there you go, the pros and cons of booking in advance or not.
I hope that is of some use to you and others!!
*In the end there is no BEST way, it's choice YOU have to make I hope this post helped you make an educated decision!*
