Traveling by train and bus in Rajasthan
FR

Translated into English.

Original post
AP
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
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Hello again,

There have been tons of answers to this question on the site, and it’s a bit too vague to give a precise response...

For trains, you can buy tickets online if you open an IRCTC account (India’s SNCF), which lets you book trains in advance—but the catch is you need an Indian phone number. There are other sites that bypass this issue but charge a higher commission. Otherwise, you can buy tickets at the station, though sometimes you’ll need a bit of patience. The easiest option is to go through an agency (they’re everywhere on the streets), which handles your reservations for a usually modest commission. Hotels often do this too, maybe for just a little extra. Prices vary depending on the route and class, but in any case, even the most expensive classes are very affordable, and the mid-range ones are extremely cheap. I wouldn’t recommend the lowest class... I’ve always managed to find seats without booking months in advance, but it’s best to make reservations as soon as possible after you arrive.

For buses, it’s much simpler. Private buses are more comfortable, usually air-conditioned, and can be booked through agencies, often near bus stations (but not only there), the day before departure or earlier. Public buses are often slower and less comfortable, and you can just show up without a reservation. After checking the schedules, you just go to the bus station, pay on the bus, and it usually leaves when it’s full. Public bus fares are ridiculously low, and private buses are very cheap for us, so they’re worth choosing when available for the route you want, given the comfort difference for a small price gap. Note that some of them have "sleeper" options where you get a bunk cabin, offering extra travel comfort and more peace and quiet for not much more money.
KA Kate Globetrotter ·
There are other sites that avoid this issue but take a higher commission.

Hi there! 🙂 We booked through 12Go—trains reserved from France, pretty convenient, and no ID was requested. Sure, it was probably more expensive, 15 € Delhi/Agra. Seemed reasonable to me, though I don’t know the direct fare.
AP Ap18 Regular ·
Thanks Kate, Alain
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Prices depend on the train and class, but 15 € for Delhi-Agra is really expensive compared to local rates. Just comparing with the two best classes, it’s double the price of 2A and a quarter more expensive than 1A. It’s ten times the cost of a sleeper ticket.
EL Elvieux Regular ·
hi AP18 A bit of a personal question: how long are you going to India for? If you're planning a long stay, you don’t need to make reservations. My last trip to India was 11 weeks long—I didn’t make any reservations for buses or trains, except once in Chennai when I booked a sleeper berth on a night train at 11 AM for a 4 PM departure to Visakhapatnam. There are senior citizen counters—take advantage of them!
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I think Kate took the Indian "TGV."

That explains the price.

Which is still very low compared to France. With better reliability than a Paris-Clermont trip...
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Comparing Indian prices to French prices doesn’t make sense because in the real India, prices are generally five times lower than in France for comparable products and quality (there can be exceptions in both directions). If I’m charged 1500 rupees for a daal fry when it’s really worth 100, I’ll probably think I’m getting ripped off because I’m paying 15 times the price. That said, sure, you can save face and choose to say you didn’t get scammed because you would’ve paid more back in France—why not? 😄

Anyway, since I’ve already been to India a few times, I’ve taken the Indian TGV before, and I’m familiar with it, but thanks for the info all the same!
AP Ap18 Regular ·
Not indiscreet at all: 1 month. I’m not big on making reservations in advance since I travel solo and like to stay flexible—I reserve the right to change my loosely planned itinerary at any time, for any reason. Anyway, thanks for all the tips! Alain
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I’ve never paid 15 € for a TGV in France.

Anyway, the TGV doesn’t go where I live, and I pay an insane fare for a train that never guarantees I’ll arrive on time.

So 15 €...

And then, that habit of always wanting to pay the same price as a local fades with time.

Because the most important thing isn’t that when you travel, is it?
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Why would that be a quirk? I think it's just common sense. And if I can pay the local price, why should I miss out? Plus, by paying I don’t know how many times the price, we contribute to inflation and deprive locals of certain services. Anyway, don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me if sometimes I’m charged more... well, 10 or 20% more, okay, but not 500%...
KA Kate Globetrotter ·
Prices depend on the train and class, but 15 € for Delhi-Agra is very expensive compared to local prices: just comparing the two best classes, it's double the price of 2A and a quarter more expensive than 1A. It's ten times the price of a sleeper ticket.

Sleeper is a berth, right? Is the berth cheaper than a seated place?
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Actually, it doesn’t work at all like in France! Prices aren’t about cheaper seats and pricier berths—they depend on the type of train. - In a classic train, you’ll find 2S, which is the budget class with the cheapest seats (often packed). Then there’s Sleeper class, the cheapest berth option and not air-conditioned. 3AC is the same as Sleeper but with AC. 2AC is a step up with 4-berth compartments. 1AC is the most comfortable but isn’t available on all trains. - In unreserved trains, there’s a single class where the first arrivals (those who shoved their way in) get the "best" spots—wooden seats and berths that are very basic and often dirty. It’s the cheapest class in India, yet it still has berths. - In fast, AC seated-only trains, you’ll find the most expensive classes, and there are no berths. There’s AC Chair, a standard air-conditioned seated class that’s fairly comfortable. Above that, there’s AC Executive. These are significantly pricier than Sleeper class because they’re in newer, faster, and better-maintained trains.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
And if I can pay the local price, why should I miss out?

Because it ruins the trip to always have to haggle, argue, and search for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

For just a few euros in the end, I don’t bother anymore.

Either I buy it because it works for me, or I do something else—but I don’t get into the endless cycle of constant negotiation and chasing the lowest price.

Anyway, there are prices for foreigners: monuments, foreigner quotas on trains, certain hotels. And not just in India.

We’re supposed to be richer. Though that’s debatable compared to some Indians...
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Actually, it doesn’t work at all like in France!

In India, the more comfortable, reliable, clean, and fast something is, the more expensive it is.

In France, the slower, more uncomfortable, unpredictable, and dirtier it is, the more expensive you pay... (Corail trains are outrageously priced).

(In France, the earlier you book, the better price you can get. Just like with flights. Sometimes the first class ends up cheaper than second if it hasn’t sold out.)

Is yield management practiced in India? In the past, no. Prices were fixed, just like they were in my youth in France.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
There are sites like Rome2Rio that give you an idea of the different ways to get from one place to another, along with price ranges.

It can be really useful.

Example for Delhi to Agra

General tips:

The more comfortable you want to travel, the earlier you should book.

The less you want to stress, the more you should use intermediaries.

The shorter the trip, the more you should book in advance and use intermediaries...

And vice versa...

Personally, I prefer trains over buses in India. But no more than 4-5 hours at a time.

Taxis can also be a good option for getting from point A to point B while stopping at a point C to visit. It can also be more economical for groups if you're looking for a bit of comfort.

There are also ride-hailing services (Uber, Ola, etc.)
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
Because it ruins the trip to always have to discuss, argue, and look for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

I disagree—it’s not quite my experience. And it doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of the trip if you don’t see it as a hassle; in fact, it’s the opposite. In places completely off the tourist trail, you don’t always need to negotiate to get the local price or something close to it.

Anyway, there are prices for foreigners: monuments, foreigner quotas on trains, some hotels.

Yes, but that’s a completely different topic. When I buy a bottle of water or cookies at an Indian convenience store, there’s only one barcode for Indians and foreigners. At restaurants, there isn’t one menu for Indians and another for foreigners.

We’re supposed to be richer. Which is debatable compared to some Indians...

True.
PA Pagaljavab Globetrotter ·
In India, the more comfortable, reliable, clean, and fast it is, the more you pay.

Exactly.

Is yield management practiced in India? In the past, no. Prices were fixed, like they were in my youth in France.

It still isn’t for trains and buses—the prices are fixed, unlike with flights, of course.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Because it ruins the trip to always have to discuss, argue, and look for the exact price. It’s a waste of time and energy.

I don’t agree—it’s not quite my experience. And it doesn’t ruin the enjoyment of the trip if you don’t see it as a hassle, quite the opposite. In places completely off the tourist trail, it’s not always necessary to negotiate to get the local price or something close.

So why all the talk about prices, getting ripped off, the best deal, etc.? I get the feeling some people spend more time sorting out money issues than actually traveling.

Even (especially) for a few euros.

I used to stress about it sometimes. Not anymore. (My standard of living is the same today as it was 10 years ago)
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
No, fixed prices don’t really exist anymore with SNCF. The company uses yield management

Just like on a plane.

The earlier you book, the cheaper it is. Before, there was a set price with discounts (youth, senior, travel, paid leave, etc.). The discount applied whether it was December 5th or a Saturday in July or August. The price was based on the distance traveled.

Things changed with the rise of the TGV. Seat reservations became mandatory on these trains in addition to the ticket, and the reservation prices varied depending on expected demand. Customers started paying more for their Paris-Lyon trip on a Friday evening...

Then the price included everything, and almost all trains became mandatory reservation...

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