[justmakebelieve]

Reading information about trains, lots of advice says "at busy times, you'll need to book ahead"

I know this is an awful question, but when are busy times? Does it make a lot of difference when/where you are travelling?

To put this into context, I'll be travelling in India from mid-dec to late-feb. Heading from Delhi down to Tamil Nadu quickly. Then making my way through TN, Kerala, Karnataka, and round Rajasthan.

[WonderWomanUSA]

"Busy times" are festival and/or holiday times. Diwali, for example -- the schools of Gujarat are on holiday then and trains are crowded, as are hotels in towns like Mt. Abu. Others like to go to Himachal Pradesh for Diwali, so hotels there can also be crowded. And Amritsar is likely to be crowded for Guru Nanak's birthday. Christmas and New Year's can also be busy time for travellers.

Some of this depends on when and where you are travelling, and sometimes you just "get lucky" or "get unlucky."

Do note that I've never pre-booked travel, and seldom had to wait more than two days for a reservation, so if your timing isn't critical, just go with the flow and enjoy wherever you are until you can leave.

[Baba]

I've been to South India over Christmas / New Year last winter. We had great trouble getting a hotel over the holidays. In the end we just stayed put in Mysore and Hampi until January. We traveled from Mysore to Hampi by car. Trainwise even after New Year Rajdhani was simply impossible and we were waitlisted when we tried to book a week ahead of travel or so. Mind you, the year before I had the impression that there is no need to pre-book at all.

This year I will book over the internet as soon as booking is open. I can still try to change a booking or even throw a train ticket away...

Edit to add: if Goa is anywhere on your itinerary, even if just for a night to switch trains, arrange this ASAP, both trains and hotel as this place is sheer madness around that time.

Edited by Baba, 05 June 2006 - 12:16 PM.

[SoulCurry]

Peak times would be:
- all major festivals.
- school holidays: April to July, September & between 15th December & 1st week of January.

All other times, it's just the pressure of excess population

[cyberhippie]

Lots of Indians are aware of this crush at the peak times and many block book their seats weeks ahead!! often with 2-3 dates in case of changes. This means two things!
1. The trains for these dates are often booked out weeks ahead especially on major routes

2. I you hold a watinglisted ticket there can also be a lot of cancellations, however that's not a science and a wating listed ticket might not get comfirmed!


Look out for specials that IR put on in this time time to ease congestion, there will sometimes be extra carriages added as well!!

All in all though, these times remain busy and trains are generally getting busier buy the day!! So try to plan ahead for long journeys expecially in the peak times!!

On the Konkan railway it's always busy, as there are not so many trains on this single track route, for obvious reasons. So If travelling on this west coast line, be especially aware of booking ahead!

[SoulCurry]

The various railways usually announce extra trains in peak season called "holiday specials". I've found the fares lower, but the routes longer:) The Mr. & I took one such "holday special" from Bombay to Goa in September 2005. The journey took nearly 20 hours, but the route was terrific, really scenic!

[cyberhippie]

Manmad, Pune, Belguam Castle Rock and the Duhdsager falls??? Beautiful route, especially the last 4 hours!!

[wanderer22]

Have heard that there is a wedding season when things can be very busy for trains and hotels.  Does anyone know when this occurs and if it's different by region?
      

      Wanderer22

[V.SRINIVASA PRASAD]

Dear Wanderer,
The Marriage Season differs from "Region" to "Region".
-----
In addition to Festival Holidays, and year-end rush (15.Dec to 15 Jan.), you must also take into account the consecutive holidays, during which period, there will be heavy rush.
.....
For example, this year, 12th August is Second Saturday; 13th August is Sunday; 14th August is working day (Monday); 15th August (Tuesday) is National Holiday; 16th August is Janmashtami (Tuesday). Naturally, there will be heavy rush for 11th August, 15th August and 16th August.
-------
Please look at this:-
........
You Queried For  Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code
2432  TRIVNDRM RJDHNI 13-8-2006 H NIZAMUDDIN  TRIVANDRUM CNTL GENERAL

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 3A Class -2A
1 13- 8-2006 AVAILABLE- 0004 AVAILABLE- 0004

2 15- 8-2006 AVAILABLE- 0070 AVAILABLE- 0003
............
When you plan your journeys by train in different sectors, you should be a little extra-cautious,  
(i)when you have to perform  journey between Two Intermediate Stations on the route of the train (OR)
(ii) when you have to perform journey from Source Station to another Intermediate Station (or)
(iii) from an Intermediate Station to Terminating Station  
- because for these 3 segments the earmarked Quotas will be less, when compared to end-to-end quota.
=============
V.Srinivasa Prasad
20.6.2006/10.35 hrs.

[Seventies'Neil]

Try and avoid these times,,,,,,,,,,,

[cyberhippie]

   LOL, ticket please!!