Indian Train !

Second Class | Sleeper Class | AC Three tier | AC Two tier | First Class AC | First Class | AC chair car | Executive class chair car | Break Van | Food | Reservation Ticket | Train Toilets | Culture | Trains at a Glance |

See also : Hampi Express | Amaravati Express | Rayalaseema / Haripriya Express.htm | Trains via Guntakal | Hubli to Hospet to Guntakal | Mumbai to Hampi | Chennai to Hampi

Indian Railway network map . A larger image can be seen here

More about Indian Trains : Indian Railways | Trains in India | Second Class | Sleeper Class | AC Three tier | AC Two tier | First Class AC | First Class | AC chair car | Executive class chair car | Break Van | Train Toilets | Food | Reservation | Tatkal (instant reservation) | Wait List & RAC | Culture | Trains at a Glance | Reservation Counters | Ticket |

Important Trains : Hampi Express | Amaravati Express | Rayalaseema / Haripriya Express.htm | Garib Nawaz Express | Yesvantpur- Jodhpur summer special| Kaveri Express | Tamilnadu Express | G T Express | Train from Mysore | Bangalore Express | Train from Bangalore | Mahaparinirvana Express | See also : Train Photos Gallery | Trains | Hubli to Hospet to Guntakal | Trains via Guntakal | Mumbai to Hampi | Chennai to Hampi | List of Express Train & Mail Train

Indian Train

Well, this is one more piece of information for those of you who are new to India in general and the train travel in India in particular.

Here you are going to get a flavor of the Indian Railway system and tips on how to plan your train journey in India. Also we’ll try to understand a bit about various classes of the trains ; their pros and cons.

This is going to be a bit long, like a train journey. What you need now is bit of patience and a big mug of beer!

Let’s start without wasting any more time. At first we’ll try to get a grip on the classes you can opt for in a typical long-distance train.

● Second Class ( General Compartment) :

This is the lowest cost means of travel imaginable to travel across India (baring the “ticketless class” of course! ) . No advance reservation. Buy the ticket directly from the railway station counter. Stand in that long queue, otherwise elbow through that bee’s nest around the counter (your experience in rugby goes a long way in getting a ticket from a crowded counter!) . Now you have got a ticket, means you have won half the war. Let’s head towards the train to capture a seat. Like mentioned earlier there would be no seat number mentioned on your ticket. Seats are ‘captured’ on a first come first served basis. Typically the window seats are filled first. Tickets are issued on demand, means the coaches can get overcrowded during the peak seasons and also in the busy routes. And that earned in the nickname - “The Cattle Class”!

Indian Train : Second class seats

Nevertheless the second class is very much an option to travel through India. Facilities and comforts are bare minimum. Seats are generally in the form of wooden benches, new coaches now a days come with the cushions though. Two sets of toilets are attached at the either ends of the coach. Typically they are of the typical Indian style (squat type) ones, more on the train toilets later.

India on a shoestring : Second Class is a good option to travel long distances on a shoestring budget.

Usually the general coaches are attached at the ends of the train (2 + 2 coaches). Compartments are fan cooled. The ambient is noisy and not known for great privacy. Carry a small chain and a padlock to secure your backpack under your seat or on the luggage rack. This is highly desirable if you are on a long journey.

Okay, enough of cynicism on the second class coaches. What are the positives? The most attractive is its fare structure. The longer you travel the fare rates are lower. A second class ticket costs just Rs350 (USD 9) for the two day-two night long journey from New Delhi to Trivandrum in Kerala ( a distance of 3000 kilometers/1860 miles ) . For the same journey in the Second Class AC coach by the same train cost you about Rs 2300 (USD 56) . That’s just for a comparison.

If you belongs to the genre of tourists that’s all out to experience the so called ‘real India’ travel by the second class, at least once.


● Sleeper Class ( SL )

Click link for Indian Trains photo album .

The Sleeper Class constitutes the bulk of a typical express train. About a dozen of the sleeper coaches are attached to important long distance trains.

You need to reserve a seat in advance to travel by the Sleeper Class. Details on how to reserve your seat/berth is explained in the in Advance Reservation.

Each Sleeper Class coaches contain 72 seats and berths. Reservation for seats and berths are done together by default. In other words, you don’t have to book seats are berths separately.

Sleeper coach contains rows of semiprivate bays of berths. Each bay contains 6 berths (6 seats). That is two rows of 3 seats each facing each other - a side seat, a middle seat and a window seat.

Window view from Second Class Sleeper coaches

The upper berth is reserved for the side seat passenger; lower berth belongs to the window seat and the middle seat for the middle berth. The lower berth actually acts as a row of 3 seats for the day time. The middle berth is kept folded during the day and the upper berth is undisturbed during the day. That means the upper berth can be used by the passenger even during the daytime.

So decide your preference first and opt for the choice when you reserve the berth. Consider a few more points in deciding the berth. During the night , the upper berths are relatively more private. Also the noise is much less on upper berths compared to the lower berth, especially when your berth comes just above the wheels. The next advantage of the upper berth is that you can take a nap whenever you feel like, especially during the day time. The plus side of the lower berth is that it comes with the window seat. So during the day time the window seat is more secluded and obviously a first choice to enjoy the outside views.

A typical Second Class sleeper coach in Garib Nawaz Express .
Photo used with permission of Thejesh GN .

Apart from the above sets of 6-berth bays, there are rows of single seats with berths on the other side of the aisle. These seats are paired -2 single seats facing each other . The only shortfall of these seats are the shorter length of its berths. If you are very tall, it is a bit difficult to sleep straight on these side berths. Opt for Side Upper (SU) are Side Lower (SL) berths, if you prefer these seats.

When you reserve a seat mark your berth preference - Lower, Middle or Upper. If your choice is available, it will be allocated otherwise it will automatically select the next berth available. When you reserve over the reservation counter you can as for your second choice of berth however.

Side seat ( a.k.a bay seats) in Second Class Sleeper coaches

Inside the train you can request your co passengers for a possible exchange of the berths. You can see the younger passengers exchange their lower berths with senior passengers with upper berths allocated.

The coaches are fan cooled. No bedrolls are supplied. Carry a set of bed sheets and a pillow ( air pillow). Two toilets each are attached at the either ends of the coach , just next to the doors. One of the four is usually of the western style and the rest are of Indian (squat) type . Water taps are provided inside the toilet. Bring your own toilet paper roll.

The sleeper coaches are marked as S1, S2 , S3 ….etc. Your coach number is marked accordingly in the ticket. When you arrive at a station, enquire with the station staff for the position of the coach. That way you can avoid the last minute hurry when the train arrives. Your name appears in the chart stuck next to the entrance of your coach.


● AC 3 Tier ( 3A )

AC three tier is the lowest cost class in the AC sleeper classes. The coach layout appears more or less similar to the Sleeper Class, though a bit spacious. Each 3A coaches accommodate 64 passengers. A typical long distance train is attached with 2 or 4 3A coaches. Thanks to its attractive fare structure compared to the other higher class fares, 3A seats always get booked fast. The wait list of 3A too doesn’t advance faster (like in case of Sleeper Class) , as there are only limited seats available per train .

The coaches are fixed with non-openable tinted glass windows. That means you can’t enjoy the scenery outside, the way it is possible the more open and airy Sleeper Class. Also it restricts the ‘window sale’ of food and drinks available at stations, the part and parcel of rail travel in India. More of it is explained in the Food in Trains.

New Delhi to Mumbai travel ( about 1500 kilometers/930 miles) by 3A class cost you about Rs1200 ( USD30).

Bedroll is provided inside the coach (a thin pillow, 2 white linen sheets and a woolen blanket) . Your 3A ticket comes with a free luggage allowance limit of 40kg ( plus 10kg marginal allowance) . Officially the size of the luggage pieces allowed inside the 3A coaches is 55cm x 45 cm x 22.5 cm . However this is not as firmly insisted as in the case of airlines.

Indian Train : 2A Coach layout

Reservation Chart : The chart is stuck next to the door. A copy is avaiable with the Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) too.

Indian Train : Coach identification

● AC Two tier

● First class AC

● First class

● AC chair car

Seats in Shadabdi Express . AC chair car.

● Executive class chair car

● Break Van

● Toilets

Indian Style toilet in Secon Class Sleeper coaches

Western Style toilet in Second Class Sleeper coaches

Toilets are located at the extreme ends of the coaches. Each coaches are attached with four toilets. One of it is of the western style, while the other three are of the Indian type (squat toilets).

A little preparation and a bit of courage is required to use the toilets in a running train . The handle bar provided next to the water closet is a helpful provision. A water tap is attached in the train toilet, similar to a typical Indian toilet. But you have to bring a plastic mug to hold water. The mugs are sold by the platform vendors for a few rupees. Bring Your Own Toilet Paper ( BYOTP ! )

A washbasin with a water tap and a mirror is provided at the corner of the toilet. A similar provision is provided just outside to toilet too.

A word of caution, especially while using the Indian type toilet. If anything falls to the toilet floor, it is likely that it may slip into the toilet hole. So be careful with things like keys, wallet , spectacles and the likes.

Though not strictly enforced, it is requested by the Railways to avoid using the toilets while the train is at station.



● Trains at a Glance

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Trains at a Glance (TAG) is a handy train guide published by the Indian Railways. Along with a host of other train travel related details, Trains at Glance contains the schedules ( timings ) of about 700 major trains operating in Indian Railway’s network.

Trains at a Glance tables list the arrival and departure timings of the trains, stoppage at major stations, days in service of the trains, classes of accommodation available in each trains, distances, availability of pantry car with each trains etc. This timetable section makes the major portion of the Trains at a Glance.

While the Indian Railway’s website is the quick way to search for the trains, Trains at a Glance is a handy quick guide to plan your journey, especially while you are traveling. Typically a new one edition of Trains at a Glance is published every year with updated schedules. You can buy this guide from the enquiry counters or the small bookstalls within the railway stations.

Tag is organized into about 100 tables. Each table represents a route and the tables are numbered as 10, 10A, 23, 52A etc.

To find out the possible train options in a route, your first task would be to find out the table number which contains the route you are planning.

A typical route in the tables

Method 1 : ( You know the station names)
TAG provides a station index in the alphabetical order. Against each of the station names, the corresponding table numbers are identified. In other words, these table numbers represent all the routes in which the station is a part. Major stations will have many routes passing through them, hence many table numbers against it. Now go to the Tables are see if that is the route (or at lest part of the routes) you are planning.

Method 2 : ( You know the train number )
TAG contains a train number index. The train numbers (about 700 trains) are listed in an ascending order. Typically an express train is known by a pair of 4 digit train numbers. For example 2657 / 2658 represent the pair of the Chennai - Bangalore Mail. One is the up train and the other is the down train.

Against each of the train numbers , you can find the table number (s) . Explore the tables to see the schedules of all the trains operating in that route.

Method 3 : ( You know the train name )
This is very similar to the method described above. Trains at a Glance is provided with an index of train names also. The train names are listed in alphabetical order. So go to the train in this index and find out the table number indicated against it.

Method 4 : ( using the route map)
If you are not very sure of the train number , name or station name , use this method. TAG is provided with two maps . The first one is a schematic route map ( folded somewhere in the middle of the guide ) and the second one is a large Indian Railways network map ( folded and attached at the end of the guide)

The first map shows all the routes with the table numbers marked next to it. You can use this to find out your route and then look for the corresponding tables to find the trains operating in those routes.

This method is especially useful if your journey involves multiple routes / trains.

Reading the Table
As mentioned somewhere above, each tables are identified with a number. For example Table 1 , Table 1A , Table 50 and so on. The table number is marked at the top corner of each of the tables.

At the top of each table is a schematic representation of the route covered in the table. Typically a route consists of a connection between a pair of major railway stations. Also you can spot a few branch and parallel routes that falls between these major destinations that forms the end points of the route described.

In other words you can not only find the trains that run from the start to end of the route, but also trains that are joining from elsewhere , taking bifurcations out of the route the route and in some cases running parallel to the main route.

Top rows of the table show the train name followed by the train number operating in that route. Each of the columns are color coded according to the types of the trains. For example, columns of Super fast trains are shaded in yellow. Rajadhani, Shabadi and Jan Shabadi train schedules are shaded in red. Mail trains are in blue and express trains in white.

In the schedule you can spot a number of arrival/departure timings of the trains marked with a box around the time. This indicates the origin/destination of the train.

Classes of accommodation available are listed just under the train numbers. These are usually represented as 1A, 2A , 3A , SL , II, FC , CC . For some trains you can spot the letter P along with the classes in the table. This means the train is attached with a pantry car.

If the trains operates on all the 7 days in a week , it is indicated in the table as “Daily”. Otherwise the days of departure from the originating station is shown.

This is and important piece of information to be noted especially for those long distance trains that do not operate daily. For example if a train is said to operate on Wednesdays, it means the train starts on Wednesdays from its originating station. Now if you are boarding this train from a place mid way its route, the day of arrival for you could be Thursdays (that is the next day) . But in the table its operational days are always mentioned as the day of operations from the origin station.

If a train’s path continues beyond the route described in the table , it is also mentioned in the column representing the train. That is, if the train is also part of another route, the TO/FROM table number is mentioned at the bottom/ top of the schedule list.

a / d against the times mentioned indicates arrival and departures .

● Food

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Food served in Shadbdi Express

While traveling by an Indian Train, in general you have options to buy food.

Medium to large size stations have restaurants and many food stalls attached to them. This is a good place to buy food, especially if it is your arrival or departure station.

The next two options are for while traveling in the trains.

There are food vendors (the Railways authorized and otherwise) traveling in the train.

Then there is this army of vendors on the platform that attack the train when it is stopped at each station. They sell through the train windows or you can briefly get down on the platform to fetch what you are looking for quickly.

In any case the food available to you while traveling is the same irrespective of the class.

Many long-distance express trains have pantry cars attached to it. In general they offer modest but reasonable variety of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu varies with the train, route etc . In some trains the quality and variety are better than the other. For all these trains there are nothing called an attached restaurant or a coffee-bar. The staffs approaches you and take the order for the meals. Later they serve as per your order. This is more likely the scenario for the lunch and dinner supplies. Of course they sometimes carry the food packets and you can buy your choice directly.

Cost for the food in Indian Trains is nominal. Say for about 1USD , you can but a decent meal. In case of premium trains like Shadabdi Expresses, the cost of food is included in the fare. They serve the standard food are regular intervals, more or less like in a flight.

In general in India food is categorized into vegetarian ( VEG) and non-vegetarian ( Non-VEG) . Vegetarian food doesn’t contain meat, not even egg. But they are the staple food and safer especially while traveling.

Food in Indian trains are typically packed and served in aluminum foiled containers.

Let us have a look at the typical menu available

Click link for Indian Trains photo album .

Tea - Chai as it is called in India - steals the show. This is the De facto national drink. In India tea is made with milk and sugar added to boiling water in addition to the tea powder. Tea is then filtered and served piping hot.

Tea Chai is a favourite drink during train travel in India.

You can easily spot these tea vendors who carry tea in kettles and shot perpetually “Chai ….Chai….”. For five rupee you can get a cup (about 150 ml). Some places they supply it in disposable earthen clay cups and at other in paper cups.

Some times the spiced version of the Chai too is available called the Masala Chai . The concoction is the same but a bit of mild spices too is added while boiling the tea.

Coffee too is sold the similar way. Like tea coffee also contains milk and sugar.

Tea and coffee is available practically round the clock in a train. The exception may be during the middle of the night. Even at these odd hours you can spot the tea vendors on the platform vying for a sleepless customer.

There are no particular time or reason to order a tea. For example you are a bit bored: you order a tea or your co-passenger orders a tea, the temptation makes you too get one. The last tea you’ve ordered is some one hour back, so now its time for the next tea. In other words, as long as the tea vendors keep coming, you keep ordering. That seams to be the norm.

Now let us see the typical breakfast menu on Indian Railways.

Poori : This falls in the category of what is called Indian Breads. Poori is made of wheat. The wheat flour dough is made into a disc of palm size before fried in vegetable oil. Poori is typically served with a thick curry made of boiled potatoes, onion and with a tint of spices.

Dosa : Dosa is predominantly a South Indian breakfast item. A batter is made of the overnight fermented rice and black lentil. The barter is cooked over pan with a touch of oil, like a pancake. Dosa is served with a vegetable curry called Sambar and Chutney (thick paste made of coconut , green chilli and mint leaves )

Making of Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa : This is a larger (and thinner ) version of Dosa rolled with Masala inside. The Masala consists of potato mash, onion, and a few other vegetables and spices cooked together into a thick paste.

Idly (white) , Vada (doughnut) , Sambar ( reddish curry) and Chutney.

Idli : While Dosa is cooked on a pan, Idli is steamed into a cake form using similar batter as Dosa. Like Dosa , Idli too is served with Sambar and Chutney. Vada (fried doughnut made of black lentil batter) is a complementary combination of a typical Idli breakfast.

Different varieties of Vada are sold separately as snack too.

Upma : This is a semi solid breakfast item made of wheat rava ( semolina ) , a springle of mustard seed , green chilli , chopped onion and a bit of oil. Upma too is served with Chutney.

Braed Omelette : Okay now it is time to try this bit of western themed item in the Indian trains. The bread in question is the typical white bread used for making sandwiches.

Egg is beaten with chopped onion , green chilli and a bit of salt. This is fried on a pan. The omelette is then spread between two bread pieces ( a bit toasted with some butter , may be) .

General Meals ( Supplied during the lunch and dinner hours) : As the vendors approach you , they ask if you need the vegetarian or non-vegitarian meals.

The vegetarian meal is packaged with cooked rice, a few rolls of Indian bread ( Chapati/Poori/Parata) , a dish of Dal ( stew made of split beans) , Curd (yogurt) and a little pickle.

In addition an Egg Meal contain a dish of boiled egg curry in place of a vegetable dish. So is the Chicken Curry meal.

The dishes are packed in an aluminum foil tray.

● Reservation





● Wait List (WL)& Reservation Against Cancellation ( RAC )

The wait list concept in Indian Railways' reservation concept is a bit sophisticated and a bit confusing for the novice user.

Instead if indicating a simple wait list (WL) number , say WL 50 or WL 81 , one can come across a rather perplexing wait list status like WL/25 WL/10 . Even more confusing could be the reservation status indications like WL/25 RAC/10 .

What are these jargons mean ? And more importantly "What exactly is my wait list status ?"

Well, we'll try to understand by taking one issue at a time. First let us see what does it mean by WL and RAC?

WL is acronym for wait list and RAC means Reservation Against Cancellation. The RAC is a peculiar system followed in Indian Railways , in order to offer reserved accommodation to a larger number of passengers. Each coaches has a series of seats meant for RAC listed passengers ( something like 15 seats kept for RAC status tickets against the regular berths of 72 for the confirmed ) . The RAC status guarantees you a seat but not a berth for sleeping. So with an RAC status , you can enter the train coach and occupy your seat. For more on RAC & WL in Indian Railways .....

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● India Train : Culture

India is a mysteriously diverse country. As a society its character is unpredictable, structurally chaotic, very much intrusive, somewhat mischievous, a bit corrupt and tricky, unbelievably patient, pretty lethargic, inquisitive to the core, talkative to a point of insanity and obviously a lot noisy. A man on the road sees no reason why he should not talk to a total stranger passing by. At the end the curiosity wins!

A porter at railway station carrying the luggaage, Indian style!

Now you put that inside a train. You get India in its rolling-stock version.

Multiply it with the scale that is India. Indian Railways operate more than 14000 (yes, fourteen thousand) trains a day. If traveled towards moon, the distance covered by all these trains easily equals 4 times the journey to moon… that is in its every day operations. 16 million passengers (twice the population of London) travel by train daily.

With 1.6 million employs, Indian Railways looks more like an army. In fact it is the largest employer in the world, if one bar the armies from the contest.

Being that the backdrop, a train journey in India refuses to be just another uneventful and boring affair. More on India Train : Culture . . . .



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Note : The info given here may not be updated and complete. Use this only for basic reference. For more accurate and updated information, consult the official Indian Railways website www.indianrail.gov.in . While every care is taken, www.hampi.in do not guarantee the accuracy of information provided here. Please consult the official information for taking your travel decisions.

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