How to find and board the right train in India, and can you buy tickets on the day of travel?

From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 9 days ago

TL;DR

Check the official Indian Railways timetable, as different trains on the same route may run on alternating days. The ixigo Trains app helps identify the correct station, train number and coach positions, and some services may still have same-day ticket availability.

What the community said

For popular trains, book well ahead: sales typically open about 60 days before departure. Faster options may take roughly 7 hours, while others take 10–12 hours or run overnight.

13 days ago 60-day advance sales

Use ixigo Trains before heading to the station. It can confirm the correct station and train number, and show where general-class coaches are positioned on the platform, making station navigation much easier.

18 days ago ixigo Trains

Same-day tickets can sometimes still be available for particular services. Check the specific train and travel date before leaving, as availability changes quickly.

18 days ago Same-day ticket availability

Check the railway timetable carefully: a route may have two trains with different departure times operating on alternating days. In the discussed example, the longest journey option was about 3 hours 50 minutes.

28 days ago About 3 hr 50 min