Holi Travel Guide: Tips for a Safe and Comfortable Train Journey

Holi is just around the corner, with only a few weeks left for the grand celebration. Holi is the festival of togetherness and for many who are living far from home, this essentially means a Holi travel to home. 

Trains are economical and suitable for long distance travel. However, trains run full and tickets are seldom available. Passengers wonder if they would be able to reach their home or would they again have to give the work excuse to their family again.

Don’t worry, as we have you covered. In this blog we will explain in detail the ticket hacks, right train class, packing tips and even methods to order tasty dishes on train this Holi. So, keep your worries aside as we head on to making not only your Holi special, but your train journey a memorable experience as well. 

Holi Travel: Managing Ticket in The Rush

Holi Travel on trains is a tricky affair because of the scarce availability of tickets. Most of the tickets are sold out the moment they are released for booking. Passengers from all circles of life, be it migrant workers, college students or families, try to travel together during this high rush Holi time and that is what makes ticket booking hectic.

Indian Railways is working hard to ensure that every person get to celebrate Holi in their homes with their families. They have launched more than 1500 Holi Special trains to support this. However, it still might be the case that many individuals don’t get the ticket. If this is your case, here are some of the methods by which you can secure your Holi travel even during the rush:

• Book Early

Passengers should try to book their tickets as early as possible. The train ticket booking opens with the Advanced Reservation Period (ARP) starting 60 days before  the date of departure. The ticket booking starts at 8 AM in the morning and there is no better time to book your ticket than this.

Read More: Best Time to Book IRCTC Train Ticket and Get Confirmed Seat

• Waiting List and Confirmation Chances

Passengers who missed the ARP, would find that most of the train tickets are booked. They can still book the ticket but they would most likely get a Waiting List (WL) ticket. A Waiting List ticket doesn’t guarantee a berth and you need to wait till the train chart preparation time to see if the tickets get confirmed or not.

However, it might be a high risk affair to wait until the last minute to check if the ticket has been confirmed or not. Don’t worry as RailMitra provides you the option to not only check your real time PNR Status but also with PNR Prediction feature. The PNR prediction presents you with a probable score of ticket confirmation chances based on historic data. Therefore you can easily decide using this tool whether you need to wait on your WL ticket or need to cancel it and look for alternative journey options. 

• Tatkal Ticket Booking

Tatkal ticket booking is probably the best bet for confirmed Holi travel on trains. Passengers can book train tickets just a day before the departure. The ticket booking opens for AC classes at 10 AM and 11 AM for non-AC classes. 

However, there is a catch. Since the platform is flooded with people trying to book a Tatkal ticket, the competition would be fierce. It is important to be extremely quick while booking a tatkal ticket.

Here are some of Tatkal ticket booking hacks that will get your ticket booked, even in this high rush:

1. Keep Passenger details filled beforehand. Don’t wait till the ticket booking time to fill these. Once you save the details you can autofill it at the time of the booking. This will save you a lot of time which is crucial for booking a confirmed tatkal ticket.
2. Instead of manually entering the password, use Biometric authentication, as it is quicker.
3. Log In 5 minutes before the opening time. Refresh again 10 seconds before the opening time. Every second is crucial here.
4. Select the “Book only if Tatkal Confirmed Berths are allotted” tick box.
5. Use UPI payments instead of using credit and debit cards. UPI payments take a lot less time to be completed.

Passengers who follow these steps and do not waste any time during the Tatkal booking can hope to get a confirmed ticket. Even in this Holi rush!

Read More: Confirmed Tatkal Ticket Booking: How to Get it Under 1 Minute

Alternate Tricks

Passengers, who still do not have a Confirmed ticket can follow these steps to get it:

1. Use Indian Railways Premium Tatkal booking service. The ticket charges would be very high but you would get a confirmed berth.
2. You can change the boarding station to a nearby alternative station. There might be seats available from the changed station.
3. Try to change the date of your journey. Many times there are some tickets available one day before or after.
4. Passengers can split their journey into two halves. Direct trains might not be available, but a train to a midway station might be available.

Exploring alternative trains can widely increase your chances of ticket confirmation. Passengers can even check all the trains between stations at the RailMitra and pick the most suitable alternate trains.

Read More: How to Get Confirmed Ticket When Train Tickets Are Sold Out

What to Do if the Trains are Jam-Packed

Holi travel can feel overwhelming as the train coaches are packed to the brim. The coaches are filled with last minute travellers, unreserved passengers boarding the train for short journeys and the huge luggages.

Here are some tips for passengers to handle overcrowded trains:

• Board your train early. Don’t wait till the train’s departure as that is when the train is the most crowded.
• Carry minimal luggage. Extra luggage creates its own problem especially on highly crowded trains.
• Keep heavy luggage under your train seat. Don’t block the coach aisle..
• Keep the luggage locked with metal chains.
• Wear comfortable, loose cotton clothes
• Keep necessary items like Phone, Wallet, Tickets, ID Cards, Water bottle and Phone charger nearby and within a hand’s distance from you.
• Use earphones to silence the crowd.
• Remains patient and calm despite the crowd.

Holi travel on trains can get crowded, but there is nothing in the world that can’t be handled with the right attitude.

Choosing the Right Train Class 

The right train class is almost as important as choosing the right train for your journey. Indian Railways divided the train into different coaches offering different options of comfort and pricing. Choose the coach that suits your travel requirements:

• General (Unreserved):

General or the Unreserved coach is the cheapest coach you can book in Indian Railways. Tickets are booked but seats are not allotted. There are wooden benches for train seats. This is the best travel coach for lower income groups for whom the ticket charge is more important than the amenities.

• Second Seating (2S)

Second Seating or 2S in train is another affordable train coach option with the Indian Railways. You won’t get sleeping space as this coach is sitting only. However, unlike the General coaches, 2S is a reserved coach and you would be allotted a seat. Use this for short daytime journeys.

• Sleeper Class (SL)

Sleeper coaches in trains are the most affordable reserved coach that provides sleeping space for the passengers. The Sleeper class might not have AC but it is still more comfortable compared to the General class. SL coaches are the most demanded train coach because of its seamless fulfilment of two major passenger requirements: cost and comfort.

• Third AC (3AC)

Third AC or 3AC coaches in trains are one of the most affordable AC coach variants that provide sleeping space. These coaches have 3 seats facing each other with two side seats beside.The price is higher than Sleeper but is still affordable. The 3AC train is best for budget and comfortable long journeys.

• Third AC Economy (3E)

Third Economy or 3E in train is a more affordable version of 3AC coaches. The seats of 3E train coaches are much more compact compared to the seats of 3AC train coaches. Beside this and lower fares, 3A and 3E are identical in their seating arrangement. Railways provide bedding, blankets and pillows in this coach.

• Second AC (2AC)

Second AC or 2AC are  the second variant of AC coaches in trains. 2AC coaches have only two seats facing each other with two additional side seats beside it. There are curtains for privacy and railways providing bedding essentials. Train fare is higher but less crowded. Even short distance unreserved travellers stay away from AC coaches, providing another level of premium service.

• First AC (1AC)

First AC or 1AC is the most premium train coach with the Indian Railways. Under this coach passengers get to have lockable doors with the option to choose between a Four seat coach and a Two seat coach. Beside the top notch comfort level, this train naturally protects from overcrowding with the door feature.

• Chair Car (CC)

Chair Cars or CC in train provide a comfortable air-conditioned seating arrangement meant for short distance travel. If you have an intercity Holi travel planned, choose a Chair car coach on the train.

• Executive Chair Car (EC)

Executive Chair Car or EC in train is another seating only coach in train which has air-conditioning. This coach has a broader leg space, wider seats and fewer seats per coach. This train coach is for businessmen and corporate employees looking to ride a short distance with premium features. 

Protect Yourself from Colour and Dust

Holi is a festival of colours and there are chances that you might encounter someone trying to pour colours over you. If you are someone who loves playing with the colours, you are safe. However, many people are not so comfortable with colours.

Here are some tips to protect yourself from colours in this Holi travel:

• Use full sleeves and dark coloured clothes. Use a head scarf if necessary.
• Use oil; or moisturizer on your face. This protects the colour from holding on to your skin. 
• Use specs or sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• Keep wet wipes, sanitizers and a spare handkerchief ready with yourself.
• Carry a mild soap and a small towel if possible.
• Protect your phones with water resistant covers.

While we can’t guarantee you protection from colours this Holi, these tips would help you toi cope up with the after-effects well.

What to Eat During Holi Travel on Train

Passengers travelling on trains, especially during crowded events like Holi, often wonder if they would be able to get good food on the train. Pantry car food is unreliable and the station vendors provide food of questionable quality. 

RailMitra provides a fast and easy platform to order restaurant quality food on trains. You don’t even have to move away from your train seat as it will be delivered right on to your seat. 

Here are some of the options you can try:

• Thali: Thalis are the favorite option for train travellers. With RailMitra you can order from a range of Holi special thali options. The different thalis are designed to serve the multiple requirements of the passengers.
• Jeera Rice and Paneer Kadhai
• Poha
• Idli, Sambhar and Chutney
• Rajma and Rice combo
• Light Khichdi

RailMitra has partnered with over 2,500 FSSAI approved vendors across more than 500 stations in the country. You just have to wish and the dish will be delivered to you.

How to Order Food in Train this Holi

Ordering food on the train this Holi is easy and effortless with the RailMitra platform. RailMitra is accessible both on the website as well as the dedicated food in train app available at both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Just follow these steps:

1. 1. Go to RailMitra.com or install the food in train app.
   2. Select Food in train options
   3. You can order via any of the two methods: PNR Method or Train No. method.
      1. PNR Method: Enter 10 digit PNR Number and click Order Now. 
      2. Train No. method: Enter Train Name/ Number, Enter Boarding Date and click on Order Now. Enter the Boarding Station.
   4. Select the station where you want to receive your food delivery in train.
   5. Select the restaurant and add meals to your Cart.
   6. Click on View Cart and Proceed.
   7. Enter Customer Details and Payment Options.
   8. Apply Coupon Codes (if any).
   9. Hit Place Order

You will get your food delivered on the train at your desired station.

Conclusion

Holi travel on trains can feel overwhelming in the beginning. However, with smart booking techniques. Packaging, strategies to avoid colours and delicious food ordering options, you can turn this tiresome activity into a fun adventure.

RailMitra platform has a range of services ranging from PNR status check service to checking trains between stations, checking train time table to ordering hygienic  food on train. Everything is sorted with RailMitra.

So, don’t let travel traffic dissuade you from your Holi travel plans. Pack your bags and make the most of this festival of colours. Happy Holi!