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Train Travel in India: Helpful Tips for a Worry-Free Trip

India train travel is never boring as it offers a chance to learn more about the culture, gossip with unknown locals, and glimpses of the most spectacular Bollywood movie-like views. India is known worldwide for having a widespread railway system, making it easy to journey across states, even on a tight budget! Every day, approximately 24 million people travel with Indian Railways, making it the world’s fourth-largest railway network and one of the busiest globally. It runs over 13,000 passenger trains and 8,000 freight trains each day.

Are you planning a solo trip? Worried about how your travel by the Indian railways will go? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these seven essential train travel in India tips, so you have an enjoyable experience to take back home!

Begin Your Trip with the Sunrise

The train station in Kolkata at sunrise
Image credit: Roop_Dey/Shutterstock

The early bird always gets the worm, especially regarding train travel in India! Beginning your trip first thing in the morning ensures you avoid all local crowds at the station and find a wide range of available seating options when booking your tickets.

Train travel in India is usually safe; however, for solo travellers, especially women, a morning train allows you to be more off-guard than night trains. No matter your country, people travelling on morning trains will always seem more approachable, so you can make many friends on your trip!

You must agree that daytime offers the best views, with green fields, serene lakes, and a peek at local villages and towns on your way. After all, good travel is not only determined by the destination but mainly by the exciting journey and the people you meet along the way!

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Consider the Location & Class of Seating before booking

Passengers aboard the Delhi Superfast train
Image credit: kk1hb/Shutterstock

Most long-distance India Train tour packages come with multiple class options, ranging in prices and facilities offered. If you are a first-time traveller, seats in the air-conditioned second or first-class coaches would be the best choice for reservation. The journey on the crowded general sleeper class seating in the train is recommended for travellers and locals used to surviving India Railways daily.

Reservations for all long-distance trains must be completed days before boarding through the IRCTC website. It makes train travel in India easier since it ensures you get a seat rather than booking at the last minute from the railway counters. A train ride should have many memorable interactions! You can only enjoy such an experience away from the entry doors and crowded washroom spaces. Women travelling solo should always book a lower berth in sleeping trains and look for designated reservations to feel the safest.

Is train travel in India ever complete without delicious snacks to munch on as you gossip? The meals served on the Indian trains will reflect the ticket price paid. Some general class reservations might not even come with a meal, and you would have to purchase whatever the hawkers sell on the ride. We recommend pre-ordering food from a Restaurant before you hop on to have a first-class experience on a budget!

Pack as Light as you would for a Hike.

Passengers boarding the Vande Bharat with luggage
Image credit: Rohit-Tripathi/Shutterstock

Why be burdened by luggage on your first trip? Not to forget that carrying too many expensive items on an Indian train can make you the target for theft in the general and AC1 class bunkers. Most train travel in India has luggage weight restrictions, up to 150 kgs for the AC First Class and 70 kgs for the second.

Here are some items that you are prohibited from carrying in your luggage when travelling by Train in India:

Inflammable items
Alcoholic beverages
Firecrackers
Acid
Petrol or Gas stove
Empty gas cylinders
Dead poultry

We recommend packing only essential items in a backpack or suitcase with wheels for easy navigation amongst crowds.

Don’t let Noisy Neighbours be your only Entertainment

Man reading newspaper on the train
Image credit: Muhamad ZAHIRUDDIN/Shutterstock

The ever-changing scenic landscapes you’ll pass by on travel by Indian Railways are beautiful; however, train travel in India can get monotonous over the hours. Instead of overhearing your neighbour’s conversations, you can easily catch up with your reading or watch list! A good song or podcast can make your solo journey much more enjoyable, especially for introverts who dislike loud noises. Don’t forget to bring along earphones and earplugs! You can also carry physical copies of books or newspapers to avoid draining your device’s battery.

One of the most used tips for train travel in India is to set an alarm for the hour when you are estimated to reach your destination, as per your ticket, so you don’t doze off and miss your stop.

Stay safe! Bring along a First-Aid Kit.

A man packing a first-aid kit in his backpack
Image credit: Aleksey Matrenin/Shutterstock

Are you occasionally threatened by motion sickness on transport? Remember to carry your first-aid kit, packed with medicines to beat headaches, fevers, nausea, and other painkillers on the train. You must also carry band-aids and any allergy medicines in case of a sudden flair.

Train travel in India during the summer season is brutal, so you must add hydrating drink powders like Glucon-d and Tang to your first-aid kit.

Power Banks are a Must!

Powerbank connected to the phone
Image credit: DenPhotos/Shutterstock

Planning to use your phone or laptop for work the entire train travel in India? You will find plug points beside your bunker, but in general classes, you would have to fight for a chance to plug in because of the crowding. Some trains also have time restrictions on using these plug points, so you may not even get to use them when needed.

The power sockets in the train don’t cater to all device chargers, so the best tip is to carry reusable power banks to keep you online for most of the day.

Train not arrived yet? Check out the Railway Facilities

Station passenger waiting room in Surat
Image credit: azadjain1/Shutterstock

Indian Railway stations might not be the most attractive or lavish, but they do have essential facilities to access in case your train is delayed. If you have a train travel in India ticket for the First-class AC train, you can access the AC waiting hall for free at some stations. You can access these for a minimal fee of ₹20 at stations where they are not free. You can also find the best deals on hotel bookings for overnight accommodations close to the station.

At least once in your lifetime, you must explore the heartbeat of India, the Indian Railways for an extraordinary travel experience. And if your mind is set on an international trip, then you can avail visa services for 180+ countries online and grab cheap flight tickets with the best deals.

FAQs – Indian Train Travel Tips

How to travel safely in Indian train?
Begin your trip early in the day and secure your luggage to your seat to keep it safe. Stay alert at all times and keep your kids close if travelling with family. Women should book seats in reserved spaces for additional safety and support from other ladies in case of an emergency.

What to wear on an Indian train journey?
Considering the sweltering heat in India, comfortable cotton clothes are the best options. Carry a sweater if you plan on taking the AC trains.

How to travel whole India by train?
You can explore any state in India by train, as the railways are one of the most interconnected means of transportation. All you need to do is book a ticket from the IRCTC website for the same.

How to travel in train for the first time?
When travelling by the Indian Railways for the first time, book your tickets in advance and arrive early so you have enough time to find the platform. Carry snacks, a first-aid kit, and a refreshing drink to keep you relaxed. Don’t panic if trains are delayed, as long-distance trains can be late sometimes. Re-check the luggage rules a day before your train.

What to do before boarding a train?
You must have a valid passport or Voter’s Card to show as ID proof. Buy your tickets and keep them ready to show before boarding.

What are the rules to travel in train?
You must arrive on time and ensure your luggage fits the limit of a maximum of 150 kgs for first class and 70 kgs for general. Keep all travel documents in hand, pay attention to announcements, and maintain decorum on the train.

What is not allowed in train?
Passengers cannot carry inflammable items, empty gas cylinders, weapons, firecrackers, tyres, car parts, electricity-powered tools, oil, leather, and stoves on the train. Pets are also not allowed on the train.

What we should not do while travelling in train?
Avoid putting your hands or head outside the windows or doors. Keep your feet off the seats and avoid playing loud videos or music on the way.

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