How to book a train ticket in India as a Foreigner

If you are opting for a train journey during your trip to India, you may have wondered how to book a train ticket in India as a foreigner. Booking a train ticket in India is not easy if you are new to the country, but it is not very difficult, either. Read this blog to understand the ticket system of IRCTC – the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd.

When to book tickets

Ticket bookings in Indian Railways open 120 days before the date of travel, which means you can book your tickets up to four months in advance. Some long-distance trains have a quota for foreign tourists, allowing them to book tickets up to 365 days in advance!

Where to book tickets

IRCTC:

As a foreigner, you can use the IRCTC website, the official Indian Railways booking site. Locals use this site to book their train tickets, and tourists can use the same.

Railway Station:

You can book tickets directly from a train station. You will need to fill out a reservation form at the station, so be prepared with information about your train. Make a note of the departure and arrival dates, stations, train name, number, and time.

Travel agent:

If it is all too confusing for you, you can always book train tickets via your hotel, hostel, or travel agent. They will charge a commission, but it is often worth the hassle of trying to do it yourself and getting confused. They also use the same IRCTC website, where they are registered as agents. Make sure you ask to see the ticket, and thoroughly check the details before paying.

Quotas

General Quota:

Most of the tickets for any train in India belong to General Quota (GN). Tickets from the General Quota are available to anyone, of any age, sex, or nationality.

Foreign Quota:

You can book your train ticket via the Foreign Tourist Quota. This is not available on every train, although a lot of important trains have it. Plus, you pay more than you’d pay for a general quota, but you will have a better chance of confirmed tickets if you book via foreign quota. Foreign tourists are also able to book tickets 365 days in advance, as compared to 120 days required for locals. You can only book 1A, 2A, and EC tickets through Foreign Quota.

However, if seats are available in the General Quota while you are booking, you should opt for the General Quota instead, since the Foreign Quota can later be needed for some other foreigners.

You will need to provide your passport details and personal information to create an account on the IRCTC website. You need an active foreign phone number. Once you fill the registration form, you will be sent a confirmation email and text message.

Tatkal Quota:

The Tatkal quota allows passengers to book tickets at the last minute. However, these tickets are subject to availability, and can sell out quickly, especially during peak travel season.

Other Quotas:

There are also some quotas for disabled people, railway staff, and members of the parliament or the military. There is also a Senior quota, but it is only for Indian seniors. In Sleeper Class and AC3, there is a Ladies quota reserved only for women.

In case of cancellation by the passenger, 50% of the fare shall be deducted along with the cancellation charges. If you are not allotted a berth, the ticket is automatically canceled and you will get a cancellation email with details. If the booking amount has been deducted from your account but you have not been issued a ticket, the entire fare will be refunded.

Types of train tickets

Confirmed tickets:

When a seat or berth is available on a train while booking, you will be issued a confirmed ticket. When you book a confirmed ticket, you have a guaranteed seat/berth on the train. On the reservation chart, a confirmed ticket will be designated CNF.

Reservation charts are physical or electronic documents by the Indian Railways that contain information about the passengers who have booked a particular train, such as name, age, gender, seat number, and coach number. These charts are posted at the railway station a few hours before the departure time of the train, and on the IRCTC website.

Waitlisted tickets:

If all the seats and berths of the train you are trying to book are already reserved, you can book a waitlist ticket. You will be placed on a waiting list, and the ticket isn’t confirmed until there are cancellations, or extra coaches are added to the train. A waitlist ticket will be designated with WL followed by a number, which is the position on the waiting list. For example, WL21 would mean that you are the 21st person on the waiting list.

If you have a waitlist ticket, you can check the PNR status online to see if your ticket has been confirmed or not. If it isn’t confirmed, you will not be allowed to board the train. 

General ticket vs reservation ticket:

You can get on a train by buying a ‘general ticket’. This ticket will allow you to travel through the general coaches of the train, but it will not guarantee you a seat. To secure a seat, you need to buy a reservation ticket.

Can you prepone or postpone train tickets?

Train tickets bought online cannot be rescheduled. You need to cancel and rebook the tickets. However, if you have bought your tickets in person from a booking counter at a railway station, you can reschedule your ticket once. You will need to visit a rail reservation center at a train station in order to reschedule.

Different train classes

Indian Railways have many different classes on different trains.

AC First Class (1A):

This is the most luxurious and expensive class on Indian Railways, and is only present on a few trains. This class has personal cabins with doors, comfortable beds, and sometimes inclusive meals and a personal attendant.

AC 2 Tier (2A):

AC 2 Tier has private berths of 2 tiers, a lower and an upper berth. This class has air-conditioning and curtains for privacy.

AC 3 Tier:

One of the most popular train classes in India, AC 3 Tier has three tiers of berths – lower, middle, and upper berth. This compartment is air-conditioned and has curtains for privacy.

Sleeper Class (SL):

Sleeper Class is similar to AC 3 Tier, except that this is non air-conditioned. This class is quite affordable, and a large chunk of the Indian population prefers the sleeper class, although we would always recommend an air-conditioned class for long distances.

General Class (GN):

General Class is a non-reserved class on Indian Railways. It is the cheapest and most basic class, where passengers don’t need to reserve seats in advance. There are wooden or cushioned benches to sit on, and it is often crowded.

Executive Class Chair Car (EC):

The Executive Class Chair Car has air-conditioning and reclining chairs. This is only available on select trains and for short journeys.

Chair Car (CC):

Chair Car is also available for short-distance journeys. It has comfortable chairs and is air-conditioned.

There are different train classes in Indian Railways

Bathrooms on indian trains

Bathrooms on Indian trains vary from one train to another and one class to another. Indian trains generally have two types of toilet – western toilet and a squat toilet. While the toilets in AC1 and AC2 are comparatively much cleaner, the general and sleeper class toilets are not in a good condition. The water supply is often limited.

We would always recommend you to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Use the toilets carefully.

Luggage on indian trains

Unlike flights, luggage weight is not an issue in Indian trains. You can take up to 35 kgs in 2nd class and 70 kg in AC1. Most travelers would rarely exceed that limit, but in case you do, you can pay extra and take up to 150 kgs in AC1. However, it is your responsibility to take care of your luggage and keep an eye on it at all times. Make sure to secure your bags with a lock and chain, keep it beneath the seats, next to your pillow, or even use it as a pillow.

Food on Indian trains

Most Indian railways don’t have restaurants or buffet cars, but on long distance trains, a railway attendant will ask you if you would like to order food. They will note down your order with a choice of veg or non-veg, and around an hour later, you will get a small aluminum foil container of food. The meal will not cost you more than 3 USD.

In the luxury Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express trains, food is included in your fare and served at your seat.

At regular intervals throughout the journey, attendants pass down every compartment selling tea (chai), coffee, soft drinks, and snacks.

There are also a few Indian food delivery apps that allow you to pre-book food from previous stations so that it is delivered to your seat on time. If you have a confirmed ticket, you can enter your name and PNR and select your choice of items from the available menu and it will be delivered to you at the specific station on your journey.

Food on Indian trains

Things to remember

• Book your tickets well in advance. Tickets to popular destinations get sold out quickly, especially during peak season.
• Carry a valid ID while traveling in the train, such as your passport.
• Train journeys in India can be long and often include overnight travel. Pack accordingly – keep some toiletries handy. Also carry a book or two to pass time. The air-conditioned sleeper classes provide blankets, but you can carry an extra with you, in case you feel cold.
• Trains are often delayed, so be prepared to wait for a long time. Carry some food and water with you at all times just in case.
• Be aware at all times and keep an eye on your belongings. Pickpocketing and theft can be an issue on crowded trains, so be careful.
• A lot of vendors only accept cash, so carry some cash during your journey.
• If you are a female solo traveler, train travel is safe, but we would recommend getting the top bunk for some extra privacy.

At India Someday, we can help you with all the train bookings and more. We curate personalized tours depending on your preferences and interests. So if you are planning to travel to India, contact us, and we will take care of this hassle for you, so that you can enjoy your trip the way you want.