A train journey in India, done consciously, can be a wholesome travel experience in itself. It’s a potpourri of cultures moving on a railway track, often traversing through scenic landscapes. However, it can also be tedious job, and a bad experience, if not planned well. From booking train tickets to tracking the train, and getting food onboard, and keeping personal hygiene, one has to be mindful of quite a few things. Over the years, trains have evolved leaps and bounds in India. So, if one plans well, all the troubles can be minimized. Culling out from my experiences, here are some tips for a hassle free train journey experience in India.
A few decades ago, when I started travelling, flights were too costly and were also not available for most destinations. So, a train journey was a natural choice. Hence I used to travel across India by trains, both short distances and long distances. Though booking a ticket or knowing train running status was not easy, there wasn’t much of an alternative! Nonetheless, the train journey itself used to be largely a good experience.
Even without realizing how these train journeys were enriching my travel experience, I always loved it. In course of time, I started travelling more by flights mainly due to lack of time, but whenever I have the time, I look forward to a train journey. So, for me, train journeys are not about budget travel only; they add immense value to my personal development.
Why is a train journey in India so special?
In the 1930s, when Mahatma Gandhi wanted to understand India well before starting his community work, he chose a train journey across India. This journey enabled him to see all the states of India and interact with people from different cultures and languages. This journey resonates well with my own experience.
People travelling by flights hardly talk to each other. Maybe, this is because of the short timeframe or maybe the lack of appetite among the elite class. On the other hand, people travelling by trains often tend to communicate and connect with each other. This means a healthy exchange of views, experiences, and ideas.
A long train route takes one through states with varied languages, foods and historic places. And you get to meet all those co-passengers boarding and deboarding at all these places. If you like to explore cultural diversity of India, a train journey can be more interesting than the destination itself.
{To read about my best train experience till date, do check out: Death Railway in Thailand}
Besides, a train journey also offers wonderful natural panoramas. From hills and forests to expansive farmlands, villages and towns, a single train journey can take one through so many varied landscapes!
Apart from these sublime experiences, a train journey in India can also be a luxurious affair too. There are trains which offer specific tourism services with best culinary and cultural experiences.
{For similar further reading, do check out: Party buses in Toronto}
Train journey in India: Then and Now
On April 16, 1853, when the first passenger train took off from Bori Bunder in Mumbai to Thane, hardly anyone would have imagined the kind of behemoth Indian railway would eventually become! From that first train introduced by the British, to high speed Vande Bharat trains, Indian Railways have come a long way. The railway network is largely electrified and boasts of all kinds of trains for different needs of the passengers.
With 68,000 kilometers, it’s world’s fourth largest railway network. But more importantly, it’s the world’s largest railway system in terms of passenger carrying capacity. Every year, it serves about 11 billion passengers in India. To put things in perspective, the world population in 2025 is 8.2 billion!
Modernization and still a long way to go:
Modernization of Indian Railway started in 1986 with introduction of computerized management. Slowly and gradually, everything from booking of tickets to train tracking and management has gone digital making a train journey in India very convenient. Gone are the days when one would need to stand in long queues to book a ticket. Instead, sitting in the comforts of the home, one can now book tickets, cancel if required, and track their trains real time.
However, it’s still a long way to go for the Indian Railways to be counted among the most efficient ones in the world. Similarly, safety and hygiene standards need to improve a lot. Though a train journey in India is an experience in itself, but not always the most pleasant.
Types of trains in India
Over the years, Indian Railways have garnered much momentum, both in terms of quantity and quality. In order to cater to the needs of a billion plus population with different kinds of needs and affordability, it has introduced several kinds of trains. Some of the important ones are listed below for a bird’s eye view of the landscape of the trains.
- High speed trains: Vande Bharat || Gatiman || Tejas || (super speed bullet trains are expected to be launched anytime soon)
- Express trains: Shatabdi || Duronto || Rajdhani || Garib Rath || Humsafar
- Metro trains: High speed commuters’ train in urban centers
- Low speed trains: Suburban trains || Passenger trains || Trams in Kolkata
- Tourism centric luxury trains: Palace on Wheels || Maharaja’s Express
- Heritage – Mountain Trains: Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) || Nilgiri Mountain Railway || Kalka- Shimla Railway (all three are part of the UNESCO Heritage list).
Some train journeys I would never forget
In the course of three decades of my train travels, I have many a memorable memories. While some of them are beautiful ones, a few of them were not so good ones.
First of all, the most cherished train journey in 2007, from Cochin to Ahmedabad on Konkan Railway. Traversing through lush green forests, enchanting hills of the Sahyadri range and passing over winding rivers, the train journey was a delight. Passengers from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat added the cultural flavour. Honestly, the 36 hour train journey was hardly tiring, it was a pure joy.
Now, let me share a few not so good ones which will lead to the core of this article.
Boarding a wrong train:
Last year, I was supposed to board a train from Cuttack to Jharsuguda in Odisha. I was there on the platform, but there was neither proper announcement of the train nor any display on the board! By asking a co-passenger, I went to the platform he guided me to.
But fate would have it that the up and down trains would arrive at the station at the same time. And I was on the wrong platform. Only after boarding the train and leaving the station, when one of my colleagues called me up, I realized my mistake. So, I had to get down at the next station some one hour later and hire a taxi to go to Jharsuguda!
Spending the whole night waiting for a train:
Another such horrible night happened in Lucknow. Without checking the train running status, I just landed up at the station around 11 PM just to discover there that the train was late by 2 hours. Thought it was boring, I took it in my stride, and thought of passing the time there. But the when I checked the display board after an hour, it showed the train was late by another hour! And this continued getting delayed again and again before the train actually arrived in the wee hours of the morning! Such a horrible night at the waiting room!
Stranded on the platform in Mathura:
Once I reached Mathura station to catch a train just after midnight. But when the train arrived, the Train Ticket Examiner told me that my train was gone 24 hours ago! Only then I realized that the person whom I had asked to book the ticket had booked it for the wrong date. Since date changes after midnight, she made a little error in putting the date wrongly.
I had to pay a hefty fine, and take a seat in the general boggy to travel the whole distance and spend a sleepless night!
Tips for a hassle free train journey in India
In the hindsight, I realize that all the three horrible train journey experiences I shared above, could have been avoided had I taken a little precaution. Though there were not many tools a few years ago, now there are plenty of solutions to keep updated on the booking status, train running status, etc. For the reader’s convenience, I share below a few tips for a hassle free train journey experience in India.
Booking a train ticket:
- If you have a set plan well in advance, you can book your ticket 60 days in advance. One can book either offline at the ticket counter, or online via RedRail, IRCTC or any other platform. I found redRail particularly convenient and a safe platform to book my tickets.
- If you are a foreigner, you can book 365 days in advance.
- However, if you get late, and don’t find a confirmed ticket, you can book a Tatkal ticket, one day before the date of travel. But it’s always a difficult proposition. So, a better idea is to give the task to a travel agent
- The chances of a waiting tatkal ticket getting confirmed is very low. So, one should have alternate arrangements in that case.
- RAC status means one may travel without confirmation. They provide one sleeper seat to two passengers, and if they are lucky, the Ticket Examiner may assign a full seat on the way when some passengers get down.
Boarding a train:
- As I learnt from my mistakes over the years, one must check the train running status before leaving for the station. According to Indian Railways’ own data, about 12% of long-distance trains face delays of over 30 minutes on average (Source: Indian Railways Operational Data, 2023). So, if the train is running substantially late, one can wait in the comfort of one’s home.
- To keep things easy, one must try to reach the station at least 30 minutes before the departure time
- Sometimes, trains with similar names/ up-down trains arrive at the station at the same time. One should be mindful of this while waiting to board the train.
- If you need support in carrying your heavy luggage, there are official porters to help you
- Besides, one must not forget to keep a government-recognized identity proof ready for verification.
Food and beverages:
- On most express/ super fast trains, Indian Railway offers food to the passenger. In some trains, food is optional, but in a few trains, it’s mandatory part of the ticket. this is generally a Thali (a set lunch/ dinner). Over the years, quality of food has not improved only marginally. This is a major disappointment, and reflects badly on the Railways.
- Alternately, one can order food of their choice online (via IRCTC E-Catering Website) to be delivered on their seats on the way
- Else, one may also buy food on the platform from small vendors/ basic restaurants.
- In my view, the best option is to carry one’s own food, either from home or from a restaurant of your choice.
Hygiene:
- In most of the trains in India, hygiene is a major issue. Though the hygiene standards have improved significantly in some new trains like Vande Bharat, it still is a problem in other trains. However, here the passengers themselves are to blame as much as the Railways. Passengers often don’t flush properly and leave the toilet
- Definitely, one should carry hand sanitizer for personal hygiene
- For women, it’s good to carry a pee-safe spray
- If you find the coach/ toilet untidy, you may ask the TTE/ staff to clean them up.
Safety:
- Train journey in India is generally safe, but one has to keep some vigil
- Sometimes, travellers report stolen baggage. So, it’s good to keep your luggage secured, especially at intermediate stops
- To be on the safe side, never accept food/ beverage offerings from unknown co-passengers
- The Ticket Examiner (TTE) and Police generally keep going around the coaches. So, if you find anything suspicious, do report to them. Else, report it via SMS at 139 helpline. If you are tech-savvy, you may also report via X (Twitter) @RailMinIndia. Or, download the RailMadad App for general reporting and information purposes.
Comfort:
- In most of the express/ super fast trains, especially, the sleeper/ AC classes, comfort levels are relatively satisfactory. In recent times, the seats have become more comfortable as well
- In the sleeper class/ AC classes, they provide pillow, bed sheets and a blanket. Since they wash them regularly, one need not carry their own stuff.
Do's and Don'ts of a train journey in India
Before we wind up, let’s summarize the important do’s and don’ts for a hassle free train journey in India.
Do’s:
- Check train running status before leaving for the station
- Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure
- Keep at least one government- recognized identity proof ready for verification
- Keep your luggage secured under your feet
- Keep personal hygiene kit in your bag
- Report any kind of suspicion to the right authorities.
Don’ts:
- Don’t play loud music; always use a head phone
- Don’t accept unsolicited food/ beverage from unknown passengers
- Don’t keep away from your seat for long periods
- Don’t smoke or drink through the train journey
- And last but not the least, don’t litter.
Concluding Thoughts
A train journey in India is generally an enjoyable experience. Indian Railways have a rich history and counts among the best in the world.
For me, more than the budget or comfort quotient, I look forward to the cultural experience. Each time I have undertaken a train journey, I have got to know India a bit more. It adds to the wholesome travel experience. But if one doesn’t plan well, and be careless, the train journey can lead to a horrible experience, as I found out many a times.
If you want to enjoy a train journey in India, there are many options (look above), and you should take them all, some time or the other. Do share some interesting experiences with us. Hope you liked this article, and if you did, do share your feedback.
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