Travelling in passenger trains, when it comes to long-distance travel, is the most common and cost-effective mode of travel because of which more than a hundred thousand people opt for this means of travel every day. Like every other mode of travel, the Indian Railways also have their own system, rules and regulations that have been put in place.
Well, there are few basic things that one needs to be aware of to make the most of their travel with the Indian Railways. From gathering preliminary information to checking the status of the train – if one knows the means, then travelling becomes easier and more comfortable. Here are a few things that you should do when you travel with the Indian Railways:
- It is very important to remember that the ticket booking counter opens 120 days prior to the day of travel. For in-demand trains like Rajdhanis and Darjeeling Express, most of the tickets get booked by the end of the first day. Thus, it is important to have an IRCTC account ready at hand, created previously and get the booking done as soon as possible, especially when travelling in demand trains.
- Do not forget to check the availability of the train on the date as well as your preferred day of travel. If you want to travel on a Sunday, check first whether the train runs on a Sunday or not, because not every passenger train runs on a daily basis. Your entire booking plan might get confused, or you might have to cancel your ticket if you do not keep this important basic pointer in mind. This you can do when you check the availability of the train on the online IRCTC web portal.
- Once your book your ticket, note down your PNR or Passenger Record Number and save it on your phone so that you can check pnr status from time to time. By checking the PNR status, you will get to know whether your train is on time, what is your seat number and coach number when your reservation gets confirmed in the last minute, whether you are in the waitlist or RAC list, etc. These are extremely vital information connected to your journey, and hence, it is essential that you know what your PNR number is and how you ought to use it.
- Most people carry either SMS or printouts of the tickets that they book online. When you do, you need to carry ID proofs along when you travel, like your driver license, passport, PAN card, etc. This is a must because, without an id, you might be asked to deboard the train as well!
- And last but not the least, it is very important to check your seat number, and more importantly, the coach number before you board the train. Do reach the station on time so that you do not miss the train. And if you want to find out whether the train is running late or not, you can always check that with the PNR status.
So, now that you know what the important things are when it comes to travelling with the Indian Railways, do keep them in mind!
