Travel India Info

Train travel in India - Beginner's guide to train travel in India

Tips for Tourists buying train tickets and

traveling on Indian trains

Traveling on a train for the first time in a foreign country can be an exciting experience for tourists, however some may still find it a bit of a challenge and may wonder as to what type of experience their first train journey on a train in India would be like. As a resident of North America, I travel quite often to India and have traveled across India by Indian railway trains many times. Here are some tips that may help tourists who plan on traveling within India by trains. 1. When traveling on Indian trains, language will certainly not be a barrier if you can speak the English language. The chances are some or all the passengers in your train compartment may understand and converse with you in English. All train ticket inspectors speak English. On my last trip I met a Russian national traveling in the train compartment in the seat next to mine. He hardly spoke any English other than a few words here or there and told me he had been traveling in India for the past two weeks and had not encountered any problems. 2. If you purchased your tickets using the foreigners railway quota, the chances are that you will have other foreign quota passengers traveling in the same rail compartment that you are in. 3. While not accepting food from strangers makes sense, there is no reason not to talk the people with whom you are sharing a train compartment during your travel in India. You may find a few interesting things about India. My experience has been that most people are friendly on trains, some will talk to you where as others may not feel comfortable due to shyness. 4. Dress comfortably and wear shoes that can be easily removed. There are no change rooms etc. on trains, the bathrooms are small and the majority of people sleep in the same clothes they boarded the train in. Of course you could still pack a pajama along with your toothbrush! 5. If traveling alone, take a small bag that can hold your passport and important stuff. I normally travel with my laptop and keep this in the bag with my passport and wallet. When going to the bathroom, I make it a point to take this small bag with me and hang it on the hook in the bathroom. While the majority of people are honest, why take a change when you are traveling thousands of miles away in a foreign country. 6. While traveling on trains, especially overnight trains, you will notice that many people, including foreigners who lock their suitcases with a chain under the seats. In my over thirty years of train travel in India, I have never done so. However its a choice you can make for yourself. There are people selling locks and chains on just about every railway station in India. 7. Don't flaunt expensive electronic items in the train compartments. Many people use their laptops on trains, I try and keep mine in the bag and avoid using it while traveling on trains. 8. Keep some local Indian currency Rupees in small denominations in a separate pocket. This way you don't have to pull out all your money every time you need to spend a few Rupees or perhaps give a tip to someone. 9. Food is served on trains such as the Rajdhani and Shatabdi. When it comes to food, if you have food that you purchased or perhaps got packed from your hotel, the train attendants will normally heat it up for you in a microwave, all you need to do is ask them nicely. A tip also helps! 10. Take some hand soap, Lysol wipes or nay type of anti-bacterial wipe and toilet paper in your hand bag with your toothpaste and brush. 11. While meals and bottled water is usually provided to those traveling in trains such as Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains, Indian fast food, soft drinks, chocolates etc. can be purchased on other trains where meals are not provided as part of your fare. Foreigners may perhaps want to carry some snacks with them as the choices of food on trains is limited and may not be what they are accustomed to. 12. Where ever possible travel only by trains called Shatabdi or Rajdhani. These trains are fully air- conditioned. Only passengers who have reserved seating assigned to them can board these trains and these trains are fast.