Taking a train journey is one of the ways you can experience the rich history, scenic beauty and culture of India. While the Indian Railways does have a railway enquiry system at the stations and an online portal, the system can take a while to get used to for people who are not familiar with its working. There are thousands of trains of various types that run across the length and breadth of the country. Choosing the perfect one for your journey takes proper planning and knowledge.
Choosing specific trains
For one, the type of train you choose to travel in can change your travel experience. Depending on your purpose for travelling, your choice of train may also change. It helps to know which type of train would be suitable for you before booking the tickets. If you want from one major city to another, it would be best to choose an Intercity which comprises of only chair cars. The Rajdhani Express trains, on the other hand, are the fully air-conditioned trains that connect Delhi with various other major cities of India.
The Shatabdi is another type of train that is characterized by its speed. It connects various metropolitan cities with other important cities. These are the trains that are majorly used for business, pilgrimages and tourism. The most affordable option is the Garib Rath, the fully air conditioned trains that have a fare that is only 2/3rd that of other trains. For a long distance trip, it is best to take a Duronto since it connects the major state capitals and also has limited stops. While these are the main options, there are also superfast trains, Jan Shatabdi, Rajya Rani, Express and Jansadharan trains available.
Choosing the appropriate train
- There are various other train details to take into consideration before choosing which train you want to travel in. The most important would be the duration of the journey. Even between the same two stations, different trains may take different routes or have more numbers of stops. This greatly changes the amount of time that the journey will last. There is also the need to ensure that the train actually stops at the station of your choice.
- The arrival timing is also an important piece of information to have. There are live train status trackers available that can provide information as to where the train currently is. With these, you can get the Estimated Time of Arrival at any station. Moreover, since it is updated live as well, the estimated time changed if the train gets further delayed or makes up for the delay at a later stage. It is important to track the arrival timing of the train and get to the station by the right time.
- The last factor to look out for is always the affordability of the ticket. Since there are multiple options available to you, you can choose one that doesn’t blow a hole in your pocket while not losing out on much time for the difference as well.
Armed with this information, you can book the perfect train for any purpose.
