Indian Rails

A Timeless Journey Awaits You

India by Rail offers a fascinating odyssey hrough time and space, cultures and history offering magical glimpses of unity amidst diversity, shrouded in enchanting mysterious colours that capture the heart while soothing the soul.

No one offers the multi - dimensional magic of the real India more excitingly than the Indian Railways - the second largest railway system in the world covering 63 000kms of track laid cross 8000 stations, running around 12000 trains everyday. The convenient well connected routes offers to passengers hassle free tours to some of the most exotic places in the world.

Then what are you waiting for? The flag is about to signal another journey. The whistle blows...quick, come aboard...you will cherish the trip forever for memories to last a lifetime.

Government of India appoints KwaZulu Natal Travel Agent as General Sales Agent for the Railways of India
MK Bobby Naidoo Travel in Durban, South Africa 's largest tour operator to India has been officially appointed the South African General Sales Agent for the Indian railways, the second largest network in the world.

For the years South African's wishing to travel by train throughout India have had to book their destinations on arrival, often subjected to suffering long waits in queues. Now however they can book directly through their own travel Agent, via MK Bobby Naidoo Travel in Durban , a step which will significantly enhance the itinerary of many South africans travelling through India . Previousl the popular Indrail Pass could only be purchased in India with US Dollars and required reservations a month in advance. With the appointment of MK Bobby Naidoo this means the 7,15,21,30,60 and 90 day passes can be purchased in South Africa as well as half day, one, two, and four day excursion tickets which are not on sale in India.

Also available are bookings aboard the unique "Palace on wheels" - a fascinating ourney without parallel in the world today, on which you will savour and relive the ancient past while enjoying all the present day amenities. This trip includes a visit tot eh famous Taj Mahal in Agra .

India by Rail

Travelling by rail in India is the best way to get to know this vast country and its diverse people's cultures. Added to which it's no hardship since trains in India are efficient, fast, frequent and fun.

Indian rail travel offers six classes of comfort defined by ticket cost, with variations I style and comfort depending on the age and status of the train and whether it is day or night travel. By South African standards train track is very inexpensive so that the average South African traveller can afford to travel in comfort in air - conditioned 1 st Class. Especially in lieu of the fact that domestice airfares in India have just been increased. For example, an air ticket from Mumbai to Delhi costs R630 as opposed to R180 by rail.

Within the past five years rail travel in India has been so transformed that it has become an enjoyable experience for foreigners, as well as Indians who find cnvenient and pleasurable. British travellers form the vast majority of purchasers of the Indrail Pass followed by the French, Australian, Japanese and American.

Because of the distance between important stations, most train journeys in India involve overnight travel. An advantage, in that it saves time and cost of hotel accommodation.

The Indrail Pass

To explore the splendour of multi - faceted India , Indrail Passes provide excellent value for money and enhance the charm of holidays for visitors from abroad. Indrail Passes offer visitors on a budget, the facility to travel as they like over the entire Indrail Railway System, without any route restriction within the period of validity of the ticket.

Purchasing an Indrail Pass offers a number of advantages :

Unlimited kilometres
Network freedom
Separate ticket purchases not required for every journey
All reservations can be made simultaneously in South Africa
Reservations can be made 360 days in advance in South Africa , but only sixty days in advance in India
Reservations are given priority and you are recognised as a VIP
No restrictions in travellins short distances on any train
Can break journey anywhere
The use of waiting and retiring rooms at any time
No supplements, surcharges, reservation fees or sleeper charges are payable
No minimum distance charge
No need for platform tickets
Can board any train
Reduced queuing
Groups can be accommodation in their own private coach which can then be detached, and re- coupled at a later stage, thus enabling the group to spend a few days in any one city.

Shatabdi Express

Shatabdi Express is a super fast ‘Inter City Express' which connects important cities to the capital region of the various states.

Other than the capital region of the states, these cities too are very important. A lot of people visit these places for their work and also the tourist sites.

Hence it was necessary for the Indian Railways to start a super fast Inter - city train to connect these important cities with the objective to make a comfortable journey for people to travel to theses important cities.

The Shatabdi Express is a day train which does not travel overnight like the Rajdhani Express. Hence it has only chair cars. This train mostly departs from its starting point around 6:00 am stopping at selected stations before reaching its destination. The maximum travel time from its starting point to the destination is 8 - 10 hours.

All coaches of this train are air - conditioned and have very comfortable seats like those found in passenger aircraft. Each consists of 67 seats with plenty of leg rest for one to stretch out. There is a pantry car attached to each that keeps supplying snacks, cold drinks, tea and coffee. It travels at a higher speed than the Rajdhani Express. The Shatabdi Express series of trains are the fastest trains operated by the Indian railways. The Indian railways are working toward making you travel fast, safe and comfortable.

Rajdhani Express

The Rajdhani Express was conceived with the objective to connect the capital of India with the capital of all states. Rajdhani is ahindi word that translates to capital in English - connecting from one capital to another hence the name Rajdhani express.

The Rajdhani is a super fast express train that travels at a peak speed of 120km per hour. The timing for the travelling on the Rajdhani Express is such that it normally starts from its journey during the evening hours and reaches its destination in the early hours of the mornings. This is to ensure that people would be able to travel comfortably during the night and they would awaken fresh by the time they reach their destination. This ensures that one does not waste time in day travel.

The Rajdhani Express is a presitgious train of the Indian Railways and all efforts are made to ensure the highest level of safety and punctuality of the train.

In the three tiers a/c coaches there are two berths that are made available on one side. There is more space for movement and comfort within these compartments, as the number of passengers in these coaches is much less. Then there is HL coach in which there are private cabins in which there are two berths. Today, the Indian railways have 19 pairs of Rajdhani Express trains that connect Delhi to various state capitals reaching you to your destination, safely and fast.

Special Tourist Trains

The Royal Orient (Memories of a Lost World)

Pack your bags for a magic journey through two of India 's most culturally and historically vibrant states of Gujerat & Rajasthan.

The Royal Orient begins its journey from Delhi Catonment. We leave the days free for you to explore fascinating destinations, where you go to sleep with the rocking movements of the train journeying through the night.

Palace on Wheels

Palace on Wheels is the ultimatle in luxury and comfort. In fact, living and travelling in the royal style of the Princley days of days of the pre - independent Rajasthan. The train is a vintage one with each coach an original State coach meant for a Maharajh which has been reinforced and redecorated for this journey. The regal, ornamental saloons are replicas of the legendary forts and palaces of Rajput Maharajas.

Palace on wheels is operated by Indian Railways and Rahjasthan Tourism and departs seasonally from the 1 st Wednesday of October to the last Wednesday night and returning to Delhi on the Wednesday morning of the week, a total of seven nights covering eight magnificent ancient cities famed for their splendour.

The passengers are welcomed on board in the best Indian traditional style, and served throughout the journey with the most personalised, courteous service imaginable. During the journey, one may alight from the train to visit some of the finest hotels in the world including one set upon a shimmering lake at Udaipur . Sightseeing is organised at every stop including elephant and camel rides.

The tariff includes the cost of travel, full catering, basic linen and toilet needs, conducted sightseeing, entrance fee for the monuments and cultural entertainment. Atleast three months advance booking is required.

Mr Bobby Naidoo of MK Bobby Naidoo Travel said that being the sole representative for TamilNadu tourism and now GSA for Indrail Pass, meant that besides the company's own packages to India being more richly enhanced, it also meant that the Company was also providing a much needed service to othe travel agents in the country.

Tips for A Safe & Comfortable Journey

Arrive early at the station to avoid rushing to your train
Do not throw a lighted match or cigarette butts in coaches
Watch your step while boarding or leaving the train
Do not smoke in compartments
Use the chain link fastenings below your berth to secure your luggage
Refrain from consuming alcohol as a consideration to other passengers

General Information

The most economical mode of rail travel is the night sleeper - saves you time.

RESERVATION RULES

GENERAL CONDITIONS

The Railway Administration reserves seats, berths, compartments, or carriage in accordance with the rules and conditions published in the Coaching Tariff. A passenger seeking reservation of berth or seats should purchase tickets from the Railway Reservation Offices / Authorised Travel Agency only.

• Advance reservations are made generally up to 60 days in advance for all classes and all trains. The period of advance reservation (ARP) is exclusive of the day of departure of the train.

• At intermediate stations where the train arrives on the following day, such reservations can be done more than 60 days in advance of date of journey from the intermediate station. ARP is in relation to the date of the journey from train originating station. In case of some Inter - City day trains, the ARP is less.

• An individual can book only up to six passengers on one requistion form provided all passengers are for the same destination and for the same train.

• Only one requisition form is accepted from a person ast one time. However, if onward / return journey are involved, 2 or 3 forms can be accepted for the same passengers.

• Accommodation will not be reserved without purchase of necessary journey ticket. No reservation of accommodation will be made on provisional basis.

• When berths are reserved for passengers, the intention is to provide sleeping accommodation between 9pm to 6am. During 6am to 9pm, the passengers concerned, if required make room for other passengers in compartment up to is carrying capacity.

• Passengers are requested to quote PNR number which is printed on each ticket on the top left hand side for any enquiry or complaint relating to reservations.

• The Railway Administration will endeavour to provide reserved accommodation but does not guarantee the same and will admit no claim for compensation for inconvenience, loss or extra expense due to such accommodation including carriages, not being provided or reserved carriage not been attached to a particular train. The supply of any particular type of carriage or the provision of a particular berth and seat is also not guaranteed.

• Departure time printed on the ticket is indicative of the guidance of the passengers. Pasengers must ascertain correct timings from the Railway station on the day of journey. Such tickets are printed up to 60 days in advance. Any changes in timing after the issue of ticket can not be advised.

• While every endeavour is made to advise changes in Time Table by due publicity, railway Administration shall not be liable for any calim / compensation if a passenger misses a train on this account.

INDICATION OF BERTH / SEAT NUMBERS :

Passengers with confirmed reservation will be alloted berths at the time of booking and the coach and berth numbers are indicated on the ticket itself, except in case of first class ACC and first class coaches. The compartment / cabin / coupe numbers for first ACC and first class are allotted at the time of chart preparation.

RESERVATION AGAINST CANCELLATION (R.A.C) :

The passengers whose names figure under R.A.C, are provided reserved sitting accommodation initially and are likely to get berths becoming vacant due to last minutes cancellation of reservation of passengers not turning up in time before the departure of the train.

WHEN RESERVATION WORK CEASES :

The requests for reservation at the counters are accepted up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, after which, the reservation will be done at the current counters at the stations up to one hour before the scheduled departure of the train and thereafter by the Ticket Collector / Conductor on the platform, if vacant berths / seats are available.

CANCELLATION OF RESERVATION DUE TO LATE ARRIVAL OF PASSENGER :

If a passenger, for whom a berth or seat has been reserved, does not turn up to 10 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train, the Railway Administration may cancel the accommodation reserved for him and allot it to the passenger on the RAC list / Waitlisting list according to priority.

CHANGE OF BOARDING POINT :

If a passednger desires to occupy reserved accommodation from any station enroute, he would be permitted to entrain at any intermediate station he chooses irrespective of the distance from the starting station subject to the following conditions: -

• A specific request must be made in writing at the station from where the ticket is purchased and reservation made atleast 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train from the starting station.

• The Railway Administration reserves the right to use such accommodation from the originating station up to the station at which the passenger is due to entrain.

• No refund will be permissible for the portion of journey not performed by the passenger.

CHANGE OF RESERVATION TO DIFFERENT CLASS & DATE :

• Change of reservation to a different class is permissable only once on the same train and date initially reserved under the following circumstances:

• From a lower class reserved ticket to higher class on the same train and date, if room is available.

• From a reserved seat to berth on the same train and date, if room is available.

• Fresh reservation fee for the higher class is paid by the passenger.

• Change of reservation in the same class in any train on the same or any subsequent or previous day is permitted before and up to 24 hours the scheduled departure of the train in which the reservation is already made.

• The revised date of journey does not fall beyond the prescribed number of days for advance reservation from the date of request for reservation. Reserved accommodation is available in the train on the reserved date.

• Freash reservation fee is paid by the passenger intending to alter the date and train of journey.

• Alteration of reservation is allowed on a ticket only once, and if further alteration is required, the reservation already made shall have to be cancelled and refund given in accordance with the extent rules.

• If a ticket on which one alteration has been made is presented for cancellation, the refund will be allowed after deduting:

• The cancellation charges that would have been due, if the original reservation had been cancelled at the time when the postponement of reservation was allowed.

• Cancellation charges as due in respect of altered reservation a fresh reservation only.

• Change of reservation to different date for RAC / wait-list tickets:

• The change of date of journey on RAC/waitlist ticket is permitted only if confirmed accommodation is available on the revised date on collection of a clerkage charge of Rs.10 / - per passenger.

EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR LADIES

One compartment of the lowest class of accommodation is earmarked for ladies in every passenger carrying train. Some berths / seats in sleeper class / second seats are also earmarked for ladies at the train originating station.

Any male passenger found occupying or attempting to occupy such a carriage or compartment shall be liable to be prosecuted apart from being removed from the compartment.

Boys under 12 years of age may travel in a ladies compartment with relatives or friends.