Embark on an unforgettable adventure through India’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage with the Indian Railway. Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of this vibrant country like the locals do, as you weave through bustling cities, scenic countryside, and ancient landmarks. With its extensive network and affordable fares, the Indian Railway offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore this enchanting land, one station at a time.
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All about Indian trains
The train is the most popular mean of transport in India. Indian Railways date back to over 160 years ago, when the first passenger train ran between the cities of Mumbai and Thane in 1853, on a route that was about 32km long.
Today, Indian railways claim over 67.956 km (42.225 mi) of railways, making it the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size after China (3rd), Russia (2nd) and the United States (1st). More than 13.000 trains run on the Indian’s railway network every day.
Being so developed, the railways of India are a very efficient and convenient way to get around. Finding information about routes, ticketing and other services, however, isn’t very straightforward, but we made it clearer for you. Find everything you need to know about trains in India below:
How to search for trains in India?
You can look for train rides on Google or on the official IRCTC website. IRCTC is the Indian Railways’ official website and it allows visitors to check and book trains.
You need to register on the website however, and surprisingly the registration process is not free. Registration costs 100 INR + taxes (about $1.50 USD) per account. You can then book tickets for multiple tickets from the same account.
TIP: If you’re only interested in checking trains but you are not registered, visit the website using a private window. This will allow you to check trains, but still you need to register on IRCTC to make a reservation.
How to book trains in India?
There are multiple ways to book a train ticket in India:
- Online Booking: The most popular and convenient way to book a train ticket in India is through the Indian Railways official website – www.irctc.co.in. While it’s true that you can find several websites who offer train booking services in India, at the end of the day all of them redirect their customers to the IRCTC website to purchase tickets.
To book a ticket online, you need to create an account on the IRCTC website, provide your travel details, choose the train, select the class of travel, and make payment using any of the available payment options. If you are a foreigner you need to select “international cards”.
During booking, you will need to choose the carriage class and sometimes you may see a ticket on WL, which stands for Waiting List. While you are still allowed to buy a ticket on a waiting list, conditions apply. Keep reading to find out more about it.
- Mobile App: The Indian Railways has a mobile app called “IRCTC Rail Connect” that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The app provides all the functionalities of the website and is convenient to use.
- Railway Reservation Counters: Passengers can also book their train tickets through the reservation counters located at the railway stations. To book a ticket at the counter, you need to fill up a reservation form, provide your travel details, choose the train, select the class of travel, and make payment. This option isn’t ideal however, as it’s more time consuming and most trains get fully booked days in advance.
- Authorized Travel Agents: There are authorized travel agents who can book train tickets on behalf of passengers. These travel agents charge a small fee for their services.
It is advisable to book train tickets in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and unavailability of seats. The booking for most trains opens 120 days in advance, and it is recommended to book tickets as soon as the booking opens to ensure availability.
Types of tickets, costs and duration
To discuss tickets, costs and duration we can take one route and stick to it as an example:
Delhi – Jaipur
Let’s consider the Delhi – Jaipur train ride. This is a popular railway line, so it will be a good example also in terms of train classes. We are looking at a 310km (192mi) ride which would otherwise take 5 hours by car to complete. By train, the trip takes between 4 and 5 hours, depending on the train.
On a random weekday we found 17 daily train rides, well spread during the day. You will often see night trains too, which are ideal for long distance trips. For most train you have 4 options: Sleeper (SL), AC 3 Tier (3A), AC 2 Tier (2A) and AC First Class (1A), where AC refers to Air Conditioning. Other trains offer chair seats and are listed as AC Chair Car (CC), Exec. Chair Car (EC), and so on.
For what concerns prices, for this same route a Sleeper ticket costs 210 INR ($2.5 USD), an AC 3 Tier costs 560 INR ($7 USD), an AC 2 Tier costs 800 INR ($10 USD) and an AC First Class ticket costs 1350 INR ($16,50 USD).
On the other hand, an AC Chair Car ticket costs about 800 INR ($10 USD) while an Exec. Chair Car ticket costs up to 1350 INR ($16,50 USD).
The ones mentioned above are both sleeping and non sleeping trains. Sleeper (SL), AC 3 Tier (3A), AC 2 Tier (2A) and AC First Class (1A) are all sleeping trains. AC Chair Car (CC), Exec. Chair Car (EC), and so on are non-sleeping trains. Here are more details about each class:
Sleeping trains:
| AC First Class (1A): As the name suggests, this is the most expensive and luxurious offered by the Indian Railways. A compartment usually has only 2 or 4 berths, lockable doors, carpeted floors and is often equipped with a sink. Depending on the train in question, the first class will also come with charging points for mobiles and other electronic devices. The toilets are clean and showers are available. Food, pillows, sheets, and blankets are complimentary. A 1A First Class ticket for our Jaisalmer – Jodhpur ride costs ₹1175 INR ($14 USD). |
| AC 2 Tier (2A): This is an option between 3A and First Class. It’s often a good compromise between comforts and cost. It generally has 6 beds (2 in the aisle and 4 in the compartment), but the compartment does not have lockable doors. Just like the 1A First Class, food, pillows, sheets, and blankets are complimentary. Toilets are not as clean, but still fairly decent. A 2A ticket costs ₹710 INR ($8.50 USD). |
| AC 3 Tier (3A): 3A is the preferred class by most Indian middle class passengers. It still provides some amenities and the comfort of AC, but at much more affordable rates. It may feel crowded, as there are 8 berths (2 in the aisle and 6 in the compartment). A 3A ticket in our example costs ₹505 INR ($6 USD). |
| Sleepers (SL): This non-AC class is the cheapest option available on most trains. Windows are often open to let air flow, but with air comes dust and water when it rains. Bedding is not provided. The carriages are not insulated either, so it gets very hot during the day and very cold during the night. It’s easy to see people loudly discussing as well as hawkers selling stuff. A Sleeper ticket costs ₹205 INR ($2.50 USD). |
Non-sleeping trains:
| EC Executive Class: The Executive Class is often priced similarly to the 1A First Class. It has air condtioning and it is equipped with comfortable seats. The seats are arranged in a spacious 2×2 way, and it’s the preferred type of ticket for Indian business men. You may also see the Executive Anubhuti (EA) on some trains, which comes with aircraft-like amenities – similar to the ones you would find on a plane. |
| First Class (FC): Unlike the name would suggest, the First Class are non-AC carriages. It is equipped with seats in a 2×1 or 2×2 fashion. These are the old First Class carriages, which went out of fashion when the new AC carriages have been introduced. Today, there are only few FC carriages around and seats are often priced between 2A and 3A. |
| AC Chair Car (CC): The AC Chair Car has air conditioning and is equipped with seats in 2+3 rows. It is often available in short journey trains, and it’s usually cheaper than a 3A ticket. |
| Second Seating (2S): The cheapest coaches available in India. It can be reserved or unreserved, and it is available in most daytime intercity trains. The unreserved class seats are wooden benches shared amongst 3 passengers. We wouldn’t recommend to travel in this class overnight. |
You can see these Indian Railway Classes in details on this website.
Waiting list & berth status
In the Indian railway system, passengers can book tickets for a train journey either with a confirmed reservation or with a waiting list status. The waiting list status indicates that the ticket is not confirmed, and the passenger will be allocated a seat or berth only if there are cancellations made by other passengers who had confirmed reservations.
When booking a ticket, passengers can choose to book a waiting list ticket. The waiting list is denoted as “WL” on the ticket. The waiting list ticket will have a unique 10-digit PNR (Passenger Name Record) number, which can be used to check the status of the ticket.
The Indian Railways allocates a limited number of seats or berths for each train, and the waiting list limit also varies depending on the train, class, and season. The waiting list status is updated based on the cancellations made by other passengers. The waiting list status is denoted as “WL” followed by a number indicating the position of the passenger on the waiting list.
In addition to the waiting list, there are other types of statuses that a passenger can receive. For example, a ticket with a confirmed reservation will have the status “CNF” on the ticket. The status “RAC” indicates that the ticket is a Reservation Against Cancellation ticket, which means the passenger will get a seat or berth, but may have to share it with another passenger.
Baggages
Baggages and backpacks stay with you on Indian trains. There is usually enough space under the bottom bunk to store your luggage. You’ll manage to squeeze a carry-on and even a 60-70 liter backpack under the seat.
Just like for airplanes, there is a weight limitation for baggages when boarding Indian trains. Don’t worry, 99% of travelers will never exceed the free allowance, and nobody checked our bags while travelling by train there, but it’s still important to mention.
| Class | Free Allowance | Marginal Allowance | Max permitted |
| AC First Class | 70 kg | 15 kg | 150 kg |
| AC 2nd Tier / FC | 50 kg | 10 kg | 100 kg |
| AC 3rd Tier / CC | 40 kg | 10 kg | 40 kg |
| Sleeper Class | 40 kg | 10 kg | 80 kg |
| Second Class | 35 kg | 10 kg | 70 kg |
Food and drinks
Food and drinks are available on most Indian trains. On the higher classes, food is often complimentary and it’s brought directly to your seat. On lower classes (especially on the Sleeper one (SL)), food vendors are more common and they move through the train selling snacks and meals. Some long-distance trains also have dining cars where you can sit down and enjoy a meal.
You can also find food and drinks at most railway stations. Train stations in India often have a variety of food stalls and vendors selling snacks, beverages, and meals. These stalls offer a range of options, from local street food to more traditional Indian dishes, and are often very affordable.
Some trains even plan longer stops at some railway stations in order for the passengers to have enough time to desembark, buy some food and jump on the train again. It’s a really hectic and interesting situation.
Many passengers also bring their own food and snacks for the journey.
Best tips for a better experience
Book in advance – Train tickets get sold out on a daily basis, so make sure to plan your trips in advance. You can always take a bus when trains are sold out, but it’s much better to make a reservation if you already know the dates of your travels.
Get to the station at least 30 minutes before departure time – Some Indian train stations are chaotic and it may take some time to figure out where to go in order to find your train. Make sure to go to the train station ahead of time, and avoid any trouble.
Download IXIGO – Available for android and ios, IXIGO is an Indian AI-based app which is also an IRCTC authorised partner. The app allows you to track your train tickets, predict delays and cancellations, show your bookings and even help you find the right carriage and platform. While the app may be unavailable in your current region, you can easily download it once you get to India.
Always check for nearby stations – Some Indian cities might not be served by the Indian Railway network, but this does not mean you can’t reach them by train. For example, while the town of Pushkar has no train stations, you can still make it by train to the nearby city of Ajmer and then take a rickshaw or a bus for the last few km.
