Can I Book a ticket from Nagpur
to Bangalore at Howrah? How
many days in advance can I reserve my ticket?
How do I know the reservation status
of my ticket ?
Can I board the train with a RAC/Waitlisted
ticket?
How do I find out the current status of my
ticket?
How does the Interactive Voice Response
System work?
What do I do if I cannot plan my journey in
advance?
How much refund shall I get in
case I cancel my ticket booked under Tatkal Scheme?
How many berths can be booked under
the Tatkal quota?
Can I book my tickets on a
credit card?
Can I book my tickets through
Travel Agents
Are there any special
facilities provided by Indian Railways for foreign tourist?
Can I advance or postpone my
reservations?
Can I change the boarding
station?
Can I break my journey at any
intermediate station?
Can I extend my journey beyond
the original destination?
Can I upgrade my ticket to a
higher class enroute?
Can my confirmed ticket be
transferred to somebody else?
What are Circular Journey
Tickets?
What are the advantages of
booking a Circular journey Ticket?
What is the booking
procedure for Circular Journey Tickets?
Tell me about Tourist Cars and
Reserved Carriages..
How do I book a Tourist
Car/Reserved Carriage?
How much does it cost to book a
Tourist Car/Reserved Carriage?
How can I book a Special Train?
How much luggage am I allowed
to carry?
What if my luggage exceeds the
Free Allowance?
What if my luggage gets stolen
en route?
Can I book a ticket
from Nagpur to Bangalore at Howrah ?
network, from any originating station
to any destination at any of the 400 Computerized Reservation Centers, across the country.
With the networking of New /Delhi,
Mumbai, Calcutta, Secunderabad and Chennai Passenger Reservation Systems, you can now book
your onward and return journey tickets from any Computerized Reservation Center nearest to
you not just from major railway stations. This networking makes reservation of
tickets faster and simpler. *Reservation can be made subject to distance restrictions and
availability of quotas.

How many days in
advance can I reserve my ticket ?
You can reserve your tickets 60 days in
advance, excluding the date of journey at the train originating station. At
intermediate stations where the train arrives the following day, reservation can be done
61 days in advance. In the case of some intercity day express trains, the advance
reservation period is less.
How do I know the
reservation status of my ticket ?
The reservation status will be clearly
indicated in your ticket. If your ticket is confirmed, your coach and berth numbers
will be mentioned on your ticket in all classes other than first Class and AC First Class.
For these, the word "Confirmed" will be printed alongside the
class of travel.
If your ticket is in RAC
(Reservation Against Cancellation)/Waitlisted status, the same will be mentioned
on the ticket.

Can I board the train
with a RAC/Waitlisted ticket ?
You can board the train with RAC
ticket. You will be provided with sitting accommodation initially and allotted a
berth in case of any passengers not turning in the train.
If you are holding a Waitlisted
ticket,check the status of your ticket before boarding the train. If the Waitlisted
ticket has bot been confirmed or upgraded to RAC, please do not board the reserved
coaches. In case you do, you will be find/detrained.Passengers with Waitlisted
tickets in Rajdhani/shatabdi trains are not allowed to travel in these fully reserved
trains.

How do I find out
the current status of my ticket ?
You can contact the Inquiry Counters at
your nearest Computerized Reservation Center or call the Interactive
Voice Response System, available at major stations. Remember to always
quote the 10 digit PNR number indicated on the upper left hand corner of
your ticket, to find out the current status.

How does the
Interactive Voice Response System work?
This is an automated telephone inquiry
system which gives you details of accommodation availability and the current status of
your tickets. The telephone numbers may be ascertained from the Station
Manager/Reservation Office. The phone number at metropolitan cities are as follows:
Calcutta: 136,137,138 Chennai:1361,1362,1363
Mumbai: 2656565 New Delhi: 1330,1335. On dialing these
numbers you will be given step-by-step instructions to get the required information.
This system is in addition to the
telephone enquires attended to manually by the operators.
What do I do if I
cannot plan my journey in advance ?
Though it is always advisable to plan
your journey well in advance, there may be times when this is not possible.
For such situations, Indian Railways has introduced the Tatkal Scheme in
more than 100 trains. The details of trains which have the Tatkal quota
are indicated in the time table with a T
The reservation for the Tatkal quota
starts at 8 a.m., on the previous day of the journey. Accommodation
is provided at a premium of Rs. 200/- for AC 2 Tier, Rs. 150/- for
AC Tier, Rs. 50/- each for Chair Car and Sleeper Class.
To prevent misuse of this facility, you
will be required to present any one of these cards
- Credit card of a bank
- Passport
- Voter identity card with photograph
- Driving license with photograph
- Photo identity card with a serial number
In addition, you will also be required
to carry the Tatkal Identity Card issued by the Railways, This identity card must also be
carried during your journey, otherwise you will be treated as travelling without ticket
and will be excess charged.

How much refund
shall I get in case I cancel my ticket booked under Tatkal Scheme ?
No refund is admissible on tickets
books under Tatkal Scheme. However, in case the Railways is not able to provide the
Tatkal Coach, full refund including Tatkal charges, will be paid to the passengers.
Full refund including Tatkal charges, is also admissible in case you do not wish to travel
due to the departure of the train being delayed by over three hours.

How many berths can
be booked under the Tatkal quota ?
The identity card holder can book up to
a maximum of six berths for himself and his family members. If the
identity card holder cancels his journey, all berths reserved by him will also be
cancelled and no refund will be given on the entire ticket.

Can I book my
tickets on a credit card ?
Yes. For your convenience, Indian
Railways has exclusive counters where you can reserve your tickets through credit
cards. This facility is presently available only at important Computerized
Reservation Centers. No additional service charges are levied when you reserve
your tickets on a credit card.

Can I book my
tickets through Travel Agents
If you are unable to book your tickets
through the Railway Reservation Offices, you can approach authorized Rail
Travelers' Service Agents and Railway Tourist Agents, who will
book your tickets on payment of prescribed charges. No separate reservation quotas
have been assigned to these agents and their staff have to take their turn in the
Reservation Office for purchasing the tickets like any other passenger.
Addresses and phone numbers of these
Travel Agents can be obtained from the Station Manager. Pleased do not buy tickets
from unauthorized Travel Agents.

Are there any
special facilities provided by Indian Railways for foreign tourist?
Yes, there are Foreign tourists who
wish to experience India by train, can enjoy the special facilities earmarked for
them. These are explained in greater detail below.
Special Quota: Several
important trains have a special quota for foreign tourists. This can be availed on
payment of US Dollars or Pound Sterling. Tourists without foreign currency, will be
allotted the special quota on production of the exchange certificates issued by any
nationalized bank. At the time of reservation, the passport number and the country
of origin should be mentioned.
Assistance Cells
Major Reservation Centers have special Cells to help foreign tourists plan their
itinerary, reserve their tickets and render any assistance required.
The International Tourist
Bureau: Situated on the first floor of New Delhi Railway Station provides
personalized service and assistance to foreign tourists and NRIs
regarding reservations, itinerary planning and other inquiries. This Bureau is
manned by trained staff and tourist guides, fluent in foreign languages. For any
assistance, please contact: The Manager International Tourist Bureau,
Floor, New Delhi Railway Station, New Delhi - 110001. Tel
011-3734164, 3346804 Fax : 011-3343050.
Indrail Pass:
This travel ticket has been created especially for foreign tourists and Indian nationals
residing abroad. This ticket is available for a specified time period from 1/2
day to 90 days. Indrail Passes should be used within one year of
issue. Validity period starts from the date of the first train journey and ends on
the midnight of the last journey.
During the period of validity, foreign
tourists can travel from anywhere to anywhere on the Indian Railways network without route
of train restrictions and without payment of additional charges.

Can I
advance postpone my reservations?
The date of journey on
confirmed/RAC/Waitlisted tickets can be advanced or postponed in the same class on payment
of fresh reservation charges. This facility can be availed only once
subject to availability of accommodation.
If you want to advance the date of your
journey, you should surrender your ticket during working hours and up to six hours
before the scheduled departure of the train in which fresh reservation is
required. For postponement, the ticket must be surrendered 24 hours
before the scheduled departure of the train in which reservation is presently held.

Can I change the
boarding station?
Yes, you can. All you have to do
is submit a written request to the Station Manager of the original
boarding station or contact any Computerized Reservation Center, at least
24 hours before the departure of the train. However, no refund is
permissible for the unused portion of the journey.

Can I break my
journey at any intermediate station?
If you hold a ticket for a journey that
is for more than 500 kms, you are allowed one break of
journey for two days at any station enroute. %his facility can be
availed only after travelling 500 kms from the starting station.
Similarly, if your ticket is for more than 100 kms, you will be allowed two
breaks of journeys.
The day of departure and arrival must
be excluded while calculating the number of days eligible for break of journey. And
remember to get your ticket endorsed by the Station Manager/Ticket Collector
at the station where you intend to break your journey.
Note:
- Any halt at intermediate stations for
less than 24 hours to board a connecting train will not be treated as break of
journey.
- This facility is not
available to passengers travelling by Rajdhani or shatabdi Express trains.

Can I extend my
journey beyond the original destination ?
Yes, IndianRailwas allows extension
of journey. This can be done by approaching the ticket checking staff either before
reaching your destination or after completion of booked journey. The fare for the
extended portion of the journey will be collected without the benefit of telescopic
rates.

Can I upgrade my
ticket to higher class enroute ?
Your reserved ticket for a lower
class can be upgraded to a higher class for the same train and date, subject to
availability of accommodation. The upgrading of accommodation can be done only once
on collection of fresh reservation charges and the fare difference. This can also be
done during the course of your journey by approaching the Travelling Ticket
Examiner.

Can my confirmed
ticket be transferred to somebody else ?
If you are holding a confirmed ticket
and are unable to travel, your ticket can be transferred to your family member viz.,
father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband or wife. To transfer you
ticket, you must submit your request 24 hours in advance of the scheduled
departure of the train.
Tickets can also be transferred:
- To another Government Servant travelling
on duty 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.
- Other students of the recognized
Educational Institute when the Principal/Head make a request 48 hours
in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.
- Other members of the marriage party, if
the head of such a party makes a request 48 hours in advance of the
scheduled departure of the train.
- Other cadets of NCC,if the head of the
group makes a request 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of
the train.
Such changes can be made only once
if the request does not exceed 10% of the total number of
group members.

What are Circular
Journey Tickets?
If you wish to go on a pilgrimage or
sightseeing trip to many destinations, Indian Railways provides the facility of booking
Circular Journey Tickets. These tickets offer you unique travel flexibility
as they are issued for all journeys (other than regular routes) which begin and complete
at the same station. Circular Journey Tickets can be purchased for all classes of
travel. A maximum of eight break of journeys will be admissible on the these
tickets.
Standard Circular Journey
Tickets are also offered by zonal Railways. These cover popular
destinations for the convenience of tourists. The details of route, fare etc., for
these tickets can be obtained from nominated stations in each Zonal Railway. You can
purchase these tickets if any one of the standard routes suits your convenience.
Otherwise you can inform the Zonal Railways about your itinerary and Circular Journey
Tickets can be drawn up to suit your requirements.

What are the
advantages of booking a Circular journey Ticket ?
Circular Journey Tickets give you the
benefit of telescopic rates, which are considerably lower than regular
point to point fare. These rates are calculated on Mail/Express fares.
With these tickets, you not only save
time but also the inconvenience of booking ticket at each leg of the journey.

What is the
booking procedure for Circular Journey Tickets ?
Once your itinerary is finalized, you
can approach the Divisional Commercial Managers of the
Division or certain major stations to which the journey commencing station belongs.
The Divisional Commercial Manager the
station authorities will the calculate the cost of the ticket based on your
itinerary. He will also inform the Station Manager of the same, in
a prescribed formet.
You can purchase Circular Journey
Tickets by presenting this form at the Booking Office of the station where you propose to
start your journey. After Purchasing the Circular Journey Ticket you must
approach the Reservation Office to reserve your
accommodation for various laps of your journey. You will then be issued reserved
journey tickets for the journey.

Tell me about Tourist
Cars and Reserved Carriages..
For large groups travelling together,
Indian Railways provides exclusive coaches that can be attached to regular trains*
according to your program. Besides the convenience of travelling according to your
own itinerary, you can also enjoy total privacy and comfort.
These tourist cars are available in
Second Class, Sleeper Class, First Class and Air-conditioned First Class with facilities
for cooking. The upper class coaches have amenities such as linen, bath room,
sitting cu dining room, attendants compartment, etc.
*Spl. coaches cannot be attached to
certain trains due to operational restrictions.

How do I book a
Tourist Car/Reserved Carriage ?
You must apply to the Chief
Passenger Transportation Manager at least 30 days in advance and
not more than 6 months prior to the commencement of the journey.
Your application must include details such as destination, route to be followed, halts
enroute and the specific train to which the Tourist Car/Railway Carriages is to be
attached.

How much does it cost
to book a Tourist Car/Reserved Carriage ?
Initially, you need to pay Rs.
50000/- per coach as security deposit to the Station Manager of
the originating station.
Charges will then be calculated on a
point to point basis. Full adult Mail/Express fares will be charged for actual
number of persons travelling or the marked carrying capacity of the coach, whichever is
higher.
The charges must be paid in full, 48
hours in advance of the departure of the train to which these coaches are to be
attached.

How can I book a
Special Train ?
For the convenience of passengers
travelling in large groups, Indian Railways allows for the booking of special trains for a
minimum distance of 500 kms and a minimum composition of 15
coaches.
There are some guidelines to help you
book a special train:
submit an application in the prescribed
from to the Chief Passengers Transportation Manager through the Station
Manager of the station from where the journey is to commence.
* In your application give
details such as destination, route to be followed and his enroute.
* The application must be
submitted atleast 30 days in advance and not more than six
months prior to the commencement of the journey.
* The application should be
accompanied by a Security Deposit of Rs. 75,000/- for 15
coaches, at the rate of Rs. 5,000/- per coach.
The cost of booking a special train
will vary with the distance to be covered. The charges will include fare, service
detention charge and empty haulage charge, The stipulated charges must be paid 48
hours in advance of the departure of the train.

How much luggage
am I allowed to carry ?
Each passenger is allowed a Free
Allowance upto which he can carry luggage with him in the compartment, free of
cost. The free Allowance varies for different classes of travel. Children aged
5 and below 12 years are allowed half of the Free
allowance subject to the Maximum of 50 kgs. You are also permitted a Marginal
Allowance. There is a maximum ceiling on the luggage which can be
carried inside the compartment for each class. These are indicated in the table
below:

What if my luggage
exceeds the Free Allowance ?
If your luggage marginally exceeds the
Free Allowance, you will be charged at normal luggage rates applicable to your class of
travel.
Make sue to book your excess baggage in
the Luggage Office, pay the prescribed charges and get your tickets
endorsed by cross-referencing the luggage ticket details, before commencing your journey.
Pleased note that Free Allowance is not admissible for articles such as scoter,
cycles, etc.

What if my luggage
gets stolen en route ?
In case of theft of luggage,
robbery/dacoity in running trains, you can approach train conductors/coach attendants and
guards. they will give you FIR FORMS, Which may be duly filled-in
and handed over to them. the complaint will then be forwarded to the Government
Railway Police for necessary will then be forwarded to the Government
Railway Police for necessary action. You need not break your journey to
lodge a complaint with the police.
Alternatively, you can also approach
the RPF Assistance Posts at major railway stations, to lodger your
complaint. |