Voyage en train en Inde
by Cmelinand
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
bonjour , en comparant le site de india rail info et celui de make my trip j'ai constaté qu'il y avait plus de trains figurant sur india rail info que sur make my trip et notamment des trains indiqués comme "unreserved" qui semblent être des trains "passengers" circulant dans la journée. S'agit-il de trains où l'on peut acceder sans reservation? et alors comment avoir les billets? cela m'arrangerait bien de trouver des trains circulant la journée sur certaines destinations car pour le moment j'ai l'impression que l'on ne peut louer que des trains circulant la nuit.
merci
As-tu regardé sur Cleartrip ? c'est vrai qu'il y a de nombreux trains circulant la nuit mais tout cela de tes destinations. Quelles destinations cherches-tu?
Anne
Mes récits de voyages : www.unendroitoualler.fr
Bonjour,
Les trains "passengers" sont effectivement sans réservation. Ils ne circulent pas seulement dans la journée, il y en a aussi la nuit. Les billets s'achètent une heure ou deux avant le départ, ou peut-être un peu plus, je ne me rappelle plus exactement. Ils ont tout de même des inconvénients de taille: - s'il y a du monde, c'est la bagarre au guichet pour prendre son ticket. - ils sont souvent bondés et vu qu'il n'y a pas de réservation, pour avoir une place, c'est la loi du plus fort! - ils sont très lents (parfois extrêmement lents...) parce qu'ils s'arrêtent dans toutes ou presque toutes les petites gares.
Ils sont donc à conseiller pour les trajets courts. Ça dépend donc des situations, mais dans certains cas, il est parfois préférable de prendre un train avec réservation, même s'ils sont de nuit, ce qui n'est d'ailleurs pas forcément un inconvénient.
Les trains "passengers" sont effectivement sans réservation. Ils ne circulent pas seulement dans la journée, il y en a aussi la nuit. Les billets s'achètent une heure ou deux avant le départ, ou peut-être un peu plus, je ne me rappelle plus exactement. Ils ont tout de même des inconvénients de taille: - s'il y a du monde, c'est la bagarre au guichet pour prendre son ticket. - ils sont souvent bondés et vu qu'il n'y a pas de réservation, pour avoir une place, c'est la loi du plus fort! - ils sont très lents (parfois extrêmement lents...) parce qu'ils s'arrêtent dans toutes ou presque toutes les petites gares.
Ils sont donc à conseiller pour les trajets courts. Ça dépend donc des situations, mais dans certains cas, il est parfois préférable de prendre un train avec réservation, même s'ils sont de nuit, ce qui n'est d'ailleurs pas forcément un inconvénient.
merci de ta réponse,
en fait je n'envisage d'utiliser un tel train que pour un ou deux courts trajets: par exemple Tanjore-Kumbakonam qui fait 40km . il s'agit d'éviter de me trouver bloquè une journée entière à attendre le train express qui ne roule que la nuit ou encore d'arriver à temps à une gare intermédiaire pour prendre la correspondance du train express. Je me doutais un peu de ce que tu 'annonces, à savoir que c'est la lutte pour la vie pour avoir un billet . Le fait d'être étranger est-il un handicap dans ce cas? Je ne connais pas les indiens.j'ai seulement compris que pour faire la queue il faut coller au cul de la personne qui précède. Peut être est-il possible de passer par l'hotel moyennant une commission?
La solution alternative serait peut être le taxi mais je ne connais pas les tarifs
Dans le sud, il y a plein de bus. Pour les trajets courts, pas de problème, tu trouveras un bus sur place. Un des gros avantages par rapport au train, c'est qu'il n'y a pas besoin de réserver, tu vas à le gare routière et tu prends ton billet dans le bus. Il y en a toujours un qui part dans l'heure ou souvent moins. Nous n'avons jamais eu de problème avec les bus et nous n'avons jamais attendu longtemps.
http://anne-et-yannick-lamprier.over-blog.com/
Anne
Mes récits de voyages : www.unendroitoualler.fr
merci de ta réponse
j'ai bien pensé aux bus mais quand j'ai cherché sur internet par exemple sur le site de make my trip ou celui de redbus je n'en ai pas trouvé tant que cela.et c'est d'ailleurs une chose qui m'a &tonné. Pour reprendre l'exemple de Tanjore-Kumbakonam le guide du routard sur l'inde du sud indique qu'il ya des bus toutes les 30 minutes et quand on cherche sur internet on n'en trouve que 2 ou 3 pour 24heures. Alors que croire? Peutêtre beaucoup de bus ne sont-ils pas indiqués sur internet?
Les bus publics ne sont pas indiqués sur les sites... Cleartrip ou make my trip, ça va pour les trains et les avions mais pas pour les bus. Ne t'inquiète pas, une fois sur place, tu verras que tu trouveras toujours un bus ou un autre moyen (rikshaw, taxi, etc...) Il y a toujours des solutions, mais ça tu le verras sur place!
Anne
Mes récits de voyages : www.unendroitoualler.fr
Bonjour,
Comme plusieurs te l'ont indiqué, pour de courte trajets tu trouveras toujours une solution. 40 kms peut très bien se faire en taxi, d'autant plus que les chances sont non négligeables de trouver sur ta route d'autres voyageurs qui pourront partager avec toi les frais. D'autant plus que cette solution peut parfois permettre de faire des stops dans de petits bleds sympas ou de faire un détour par un village, un beau temple, ... Évidemment, le partage avec d'autres voyageurs est d'autant plus aisé que tu ne planifies pas tout au jours ou à l'heure près. Ce qui est antinomique avec la nécessaire réservation des trains qui est ce que je trouve de plus contraignant et désagréable du voyage en Inde ( bien sur, je ne parle pas là des trajets en train qui sont, eux, plutôt agréables). C'est pourquoi, sur de courts trajets, je privilégie en général le train.
Bon voyage. La région que tu t'apprêtes à parcourir est un de mes meilleurs souvenirs.....
Comme plusieurs te l'ont indiqué, pour de courte trajets tu trouveras toujours une solution. 40 kms peut très bien se faire en taxi, d'autant plus que les chances sont non négligeables de trouver sur ta route d'autres voyageurs qui pourront partager avec toi les frais. D'autant plus que cette solution peut parfois permettre de faire des stops dans de petits bleds sympas ou de faire un détour par un village, un beau temple, ... Évidemment, le partage avec d'autres voyageurs est d'autant plus aisé que tu ne planifies pas tout au jours ou à l'heure près. Ce qui est antinomique avec la nécessaire réservation des trains qui est ce que je trouve de plus contraignant et désagréable du voyage en Inde ( bien sur, je ne parle pas là des trajets en train qui sont, eux, plutôt agréables). C'est pourquoi, sur de courts trajets, je privilégie en général le train.
Bon voyage. La région que tu t'apprêtes à parcourir est un de mes meilleurs souvenirs.....
En voyage je ne sais pas toujours où je suis, mais je ne suis jamais perdue...
merci de m'avoir répondu
excuses moi mais je ne comprend pas très bien ta réponse: tu commences par dire que pour de courtes distances on peut très bien utiliser le taxi et tu termines en disant que pour de courtes distances tu privilégies... le train. peut être voulais tu dire que pour de courtes distances tu privilégiais le taxi? A ce propos j'ai compris qu'avant de prendre un taxi il fallait bien préciser l'itinéraire et le tarif mais aurais tu une idée des tarifs? quant à partager un taxi avec d'autres voyageurs je n'y vois aucun inconvénient mais comment faire pour le savoir?
encore merci
comme je fais un circuit je suis bien obligé de planifier car pas question de ne pas arriver à temps pour prendre un train et encore plus un avion qui par définition auront été réservés parfois longtemps à l'avance.
mon voyage est prévu en avril. Est-il nécessaire de reserver des hébergements à l'avance à cettte époque?
Oups, en effet il n'y a rien à comprendre. Je ne devais pas être bien réveillée. Je voulais dire le bus ou le taxi.
Pour le partage avec d'autres voyageurs, il s'agit de demander autour de soi, dans les guest house par exemple. Je n'ai jamais eu de mal à trouver, mais j'ai toujours essayé de rester flexible. Mais on ne peut pas toujours.
Pour les réservations d'hôtel je n'en fais presque jamais car je souhaite rester flexible. Regarde seulement s'il y a des fêtes religieuses ou festivals au moment de ton séjour. Ça peut jouer.
Quant au prix du taxi, je ne suis pas allée en Inde depuis plus de deux ans, je ne sais plus où les choses en sont. Mais j'y retourne, enfin, en mars. Tu pourras revenir vers moi à ce moment-là.
Voilà !
Pour le partage avec d'autres voyageurs, il s'agit de demander autour de soi, dans les guest house par exemple. Je n'ai jamais eu de mal à trouver, mais j'ai toujours essayé de rester flexible. Mais on ne peut pas toujours.
Pour les réservations d'hôtel je n'en fais presque jamais car je souhaite rester flexible. Regarde seulement s'il y a des fêtes religieuses ou festivals au moment de ton séjour. Ça peut jouer.
Quant au prix du taxi, je ne suis pas allée en Inde depuis plus de deux ans, je ne sais plus où les choses en sont. Mais j'y retourne, enfin, en mars. Tu pourras revenir vers moi à ce moment-là.
Voilà !
En voyage je ne sais pas toujours où je suis, mais je ne suis jamais perdue...
Bonsoir (ici 22h42)
parfois le train est tres lent, par exemple un trajet Pondy....Chennai dure un peu plus de 3 h en bus, et par train 5h au moins, il n'y a que 150kms! voir les bus pour de courtes distances
à bientot Jacques
parfois le train est tres lent, par exemple un trajet Pondy....Chennai dure un peu plus de 3 h en bus, et par train 5h au moins, il n'y a que 150kms! voir les bus pour de courtes distances
à bientot Jacques
Les trains qui arrivent en pleine nuit c'est ce que nous évitons toujours de prendre... Il me semble que dans le sud, à part le trajet de Trichy à Rameswaram qui vaut vraiment le coup en train, il vaut mieux prendre le bus et, quitte à me répéter, tu trouveras toujours des bus pour aller partout à tout moment de la journée. Nous avons ainsi rallié Pondichery à Trichy, puis Rameswaram à Madurai, Madurai à Munnar, Munnar à Kovalam.... Pas la peine de vouloir connaître d'avance les horaires de bus, tu peux te dire que tu en trouveras toujours un sur place...
Anne
Mes récits de voyages : www.unendroitoualler.fr
Les trains qui arrivent en pleine nuit c'est ce que nous évitons toujours de prendre... Il me semble que dans le sud, à part le trajet de Trichy à Rameswaram qui vaut vraiment le coup en train, il vaut mieux prendre le bus et, quitte à me répéter, tu trouveras toujours des bus pour aller partout à tout moment de la journée. Nous avons ainsi rallié Pondichery à Trichy, puis Rameswaram à Madurai, Madurai à Munnar, Munnar à Kovalam.... Pas la peine de vouloir connaître d'avance les horaires de bus, tu peux te dire que tu en trouveras toujours un sur place...
Bonjour, j ai lu votre blog et j ai l intention de prendre le train justement entre Trichy et Rameswaram. Est ce qu il faut réserver à l avance ce trajet? Si oui, peut on s y prendre la veille en allant chercher le billet à la gare? Merci
Bonjour, j ai lu votre blog et j ai l intention de prendre le train justement entre Trichy et Rameswaram. Est ce qu il faut réserver à l avance ce trajet? Si oui, peut on s y prendre la veille en allant chercher le billet à la gare? Merci
Il est tout à fait possible d'acheter les billets la veille ou deux-trois jours avant (ce que je fais le plus souvent).
L'inconvénient de cette methode est qu'il n'est pas rare que les trains indiens soient complets plusieurs semaines à l'avance. Il se peut ainsi que vous vous retrouviez en liste d'attente et deviez attendre confirmation une heure avant le départ. Evidemment, plus vous êtes de personne, moins il est facile de trouver une place au dernier moment. Cela dit, j'ai pris le train des dizaines de fois en faisant comme ça et je n'ai jamais eu de problème pour partir. On se retrouve juste dans des classes plus modestes ou parfois dand des trains plus lents.
Je vous conseille quand même de ne pas vous y prendre la veille, ça limite les chances. Si vous voulez eviter de faire la queue à la gare, il y a des agences en ville (parfois les hôtels s'en chargent) qui font votre reservation, et ne prennent en moyenne que 100 roupies de commission.
Je vous conseille quand même de ne pas vous y prendre la veille, ça limite les chances. Si vous voulez eviter de faire la queue à la gare, il y a des agences en ville (parfois les hôtels s'en chargent) qui font votre reservation, et ne prennent en moyenne que 100 roupies de commission.
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I’m reaching out on this forum to ask for route ideas—this time north of Tokyo, but without heading to the Sapporo island (I’m saving that for a future trip).
I’d love to take advantage of the cherry blossom season and its festivities.
I’m looking to create a route that’s a little off the beaten path while staying within 5-6 hours by train from Tokyo to avoid spending too much time on transfers.
Thanks in advance for sharing your suggestions and experiences!
Michael
I'm heading to MEXICO IN NOVEMBER 2025. Since private guides and drivers are really expensive—over 300 € per day—I'm thinking of exploring the Yucatán by train. CAN YOU SHARE ANY INFO ON THIS? Thanks
Hi there!
We’re planning to visit Serbia (1 week) and then Montenegro (2nd week) with our kids from April 18 to May 4. We’d prefer to travel by train (overnight if possible), but we’re not sure which platform to book on or when to do it (is it too early?). If anyone has any tips, I’m all ears!!
I wanted to know if it’s possible to go from Tashkent to Almaty by train without passing through Kyrgyzstan. I’ve heard the border is often closed 😕 between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Thanks in advance!
Olivier
Hi there!
We’re planning to head back to Istanbul next year—obviously by plane—and then take the train from Istanbul to Antalya. Has anyone here already made this trip by train with TCDD?
I’d love any tips or info that could be useful for us!
I'd like to go to Montserrat on my own from Barcelona. Share your suggestions with me.
Which train should I take, where to get off, what to see once I arrive, etc.
Hi there,
I need to take a sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane in January. I found some ticket options on 12Go Asia, but booking doesn’t seem possible at the moment. I’ve tried simulations for several dates, but no luck. I’m wondering if it’s already fully booked, if they’ve stopped selling tickets… yet 12Go still features it every day 😕
Has anyone else run into this issue? Can I find tickets on another site? (I tried Baolau, but no sleepers left for January 8th.)
Thanks!
I need to take a sleeper train from Bangkok to Vientiane in January. I found some ticket options on 12Go Asia, but booking doesn’t seem possible at the moment. I’ve tried simulations for several dates, but no luck. I’m wondering if it’s already fully booked, if they’ve stopped selling tickets… yet 12Go still features it every day 😕
Has anyone else run into this issue? Can I find tickets on another site? (I tried Baolau, but no sleepers left for January 8th.)
Thanks!
Hi there,
I’m a bit late to be worrying about this, but hopefully someone can help me before I leave.
Tomorrow afternoon, I arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu on the TGV at 5:50 PM and take the TER to Mâcon at 6:16 PM. Is a 26-minute transfer doable? Are the TGV and TER on the same departure board? And are they on the same platforms too?
I’ve been to Lyon before but never had to make a connection after arriving.
Thanks
Hello,
Starting November 15th, I’ll be arriving in Thailand, and during my stay, I plan to visit the north, around the Chiang Mai area, then head south to the Krabi region. After Krabi, I’m planning to take an overnight train to Bangkok. I was wondering if there’s a train that leaves from Krabi or Trang, or if I absolutely have to go to Surat Thani? Also, which official website can I use to book my ticket?
Next, since I’ll be arriving at dawn in Bangkok, I’ve planned to spend 2 days in Kanchanaburi. What’s the most convenient way to get there—bus or train? And if you know any companies or websites, that’d be great.
Thanks for your tips!
Fred
Starting November 15th, I’ll be arriving in Thailand, and during my stay, I plan to visit the north, around the Chiang Mai area, then head south to the Krabi region. After Krabi, I’m planning to take an overnight train to Bangkok. I was wondering if there’s a train that leaves from Krabi or Trang, or if I absolutely have to go to Surat Thani? Also, which official website can I use to book my ticket?
Next, since I’ll be arriving at dawn in Bangkok, I’ve planned to spend 2 days in Kanchanaburi. What’s the most convenient way to get there—bus or train? And if you know any companies or websites, that’d be great.
Thanks for your tips!
Fred
Hi! I arrive in Vancouver on August 24, 2025, and I’m staying until Friday, August 29, 2025—the day I take *The Canadian* train to Toronto.
I’m exploring several things in Vancouver, including whale watching—if you’ve got any great tips, don’t hesitate! Thanks!
I’m exploring several things in Vancouver, including whale watching—if you’ve got any great tips, don’t hesitate! Thanks!
Hi there,
Does anyone know if there’s a bus from Luang Namtha to Boten to catch the train coming from China to Vientiane? If so, what’s the name of the company? Also, how long does the bus take to cover that distance? What’s the condition of the road like?
Thanks for your help!
Tom
I just realized there’s only one payment method accepted for booking the Mombasa-Nairobi express train ticket online: M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer service used in Africa. Would it be impossible to book as a European?
Hi
Have any of you booked tickets through rail.ninja?
Hi there,
I’d love to know if any of you have recently eaten on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
We’ve always ordered food on the train, and it was really good (and super convenient). But in 2022, we ended up feeling like total idiots (with our 4-year-old daughter...) when we boarded the train only to find out that this service was no longer available... (It was the first time we’d traveled right after COVID.)
That’s also when we saw once again how kind Thai people are—they all offered to share their food with us, even though we were mortified. In the end, we managed to buy some instant noodles, which was better than nothing. Anyway, that’s the little story behind it.
In the following years, we’ve always brought our own meals.
I’ve read online that meal trays are back in service (could you confirm this, please?), but that the quality is really poor. I’ve also seen multiple reports that, even though you can eat well everywhere in Thailand, the train meal was the worst food travelers had during their trip...
Could you give me a recent opinion on this? We’ll be departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station—do you know if there’s anywhere to buy a meal there before boarding the train?
Thanks so much for your help, and have a great Sunday!
I’d love to know if any of you have recently eaten on the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
We’ve always ordered food on the train, and it was really good (and super convenient). But in 2022, we ended up feeling like total idiots (with our 4-year-old daughter...) when we boarded the train only to find out that this service was no longer available... (It was the first time we’d traveled right after COVID.)
That’s also when we saw once again how kind Thai people are—they all offered to share their food with us, even though we were mortified. In the end, we managed to buy some instant noodles, which was better than nothing. Anyway, that’s the little story behind it.
In the following years, we’ve always brought our own meals.
I’ve read online that meal trays are back in service (could you confirm this, please?), but that the quality is really poor. I’ve also seen multiple reports that, even though you can eat well everywhere in Thailand, the train meal was the worst food travelers had during their trip...
Could you give me a recent opinion on this? We’ll be departing from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station—do you know if there’s anywhere to buy a meal there before boarding the train?
Thanks so much for your help, and have a great Sunday!
Hi there,
We’re heading to Thailand in February 2026 and we’d like to take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Can we book two first-class tickets? I’m only seeing second-class options.
Thanks
We’re heading to Thailand in February 2026 and we’d like to take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Can we book two first-class tickets? I’m only seeing second-class options.
Thanks
Hi everyone,
For traveling in Rajasthan by train and bus, could you give me some info: where to buy tickets, cost, purchase locations, websites, etc.?
Any tips you have would be super helpful.
Thanks
Hi there,
We’re traveling to Java on October 23, just the two of us. I’ve read that it’s best to book train tickets in advance on tiket.com. Is that true, and how far ahead do you recommend? Are the tickets changeable?
Thanks for your help!
Nicole
We’re traveling to Java on October 23, just the two of us. I’ve read that it’s best to book train tickets in advance on tiket.com. Is that true, and how far ahead do you recommend? Are the tickets changeable?
Thanks for your help!
Nicole




