How to Master Indian Railways: A Foreigner’s Travel Guide

By: Swarn Rajhans | onApril 19, 2025

Indian Railways is the most convenient mode of travel in the country. However, this convenient travel option can be a daunting task if you are a foreigner.

From booking tickets to boarding the tickets, the idea of using public transport in a foreign country might be challenging. However, the good news is travelling on Indian Railways as a foreigner is surprisingly easy.

Thanks to the seamless integration of information technology, Indian Railways are now more accessible than ever. In this blog, we are going to provide a step by step guide on how foreigners can master the Indian Railways.

Understanding Indian Railways

Before we dive into the details of the ticket booking process, it is important to first have a background information about the Indian Railways.

Indian Railways transport over 24 million passengers everyday across more than 13,000 Passenger trains. The world’s fourth most extensive rail network line winds through more than 7000 stations.

This coverage ensures reach across every nook and corner of the country. Be it the most urban cosmopolitan centre or a remote rural village, there’s almost always a train to take you there.

There are different types of Indian Trains, e.g., Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi, Express, Superfast and the new game changer Vande Bharat. These trains differ in the time, route and the quality of the service.

Use a Railway service app such as RailMitra to check the Train Schedule of the different trains. This app will provide you with the time and route information helping you pick the best train.

How can Foreigners Navigate Indian Railways Like a Local

Now that we have background information about the Indian Railways, let’s move into the most important part: how to book tickets and travel like a local.

Understanding Train Classes

Indian Railways offers multiple travel classes varying on comfort level and budget. You can pick any one according to your comfort and travel preference:

AC First Class (1A): This is the most luxurious class of Indian train equipped with private lockable cabins, comfortable beds and exclusive access to a personal attendant.

AC 2 Tier (2A): This is the air-conditioned class with two tiers of sleeping arrangements: lower and upper. Each berth comes with curtains to ensure privacy.

AC 3 Tier (3A): Air-conditioned three tier berths: lower, middle and upper. Curtains on each berth for privacy.

Sleeper Class (SL): Non-air conditioned three tier berth: lower, middle and upper. No curtains.

General Class (GN): This is the most economical and non-reserved berth with cushioned or wooden seats.

Executive Chair Car (EC): Premium class reclining chair with Air-conditioning.

Chair Car (CC): Comfortable chairs with Air-conditioning.

Booking Tickets on Indian Railways

Foreigners have multiple options to book tickets on Indian Railways. These are: General Ticket booking, Foreign Tourist Quota and Tatkal Quota.

General Ticket:

Foreign tourists can book a ticket just like an Indian Passenger does. With General ticket booking you can make a reservation 60 days prior to the departure and the travel charges are lower. You can book ticket via:

Offline Method: One time rescheduling allowed.
Online Method: No rescheduling allowed.

For online booking you just have to create an account on IRCTC, fill in your details (passport, travel date, origin, destination, class), and pay with international cards.

Make sure to check the Seat Availability before making a booking.

Foreign Tourist Quota:

Foreign Tourists and NRIs can also book tickets on a special quota reserved for them. Tickets in this quota can be booked 365 days before the date of the departure.

You can visit the International Tourist Bureau counters available at select stations to book the ticket. You can also book tickets online by visiting the Indian Railways website and selecting the Foreign Tourist Quota option.

The Foreign Tourist Quota option isn’t easily visible. You can find it from the “Trains” drop-down button present at the top of the Indian Railways booking page.

To book a ticket under Foreign Tourist Quota, you’d need:

International mobile number
Passport number
International Debit/Credit card.

Tatkal Quota:

Foreign tourists can also book tickets under the Tatkal Quota. Tatkal is the last minute ticket booking service which provides tickets just before the date of departure.

Fares are on the higher side and tickets are booked fast. For AC classes booking opens at 10AM while for non-AC Classes ticket booking opens at 11AM.

Checking Indian Railways Train Timings

It is important to check train timings before and after booking tickets. Before booking, you need train timings to pick the train that suits your schedule. After booking, you need to check train timings as delays are common on Indian Trains.

Use railways services such as Live Train Running Status and Train Schedule to keep track of your train timings. RailMitra provides these services through a convenient and user-friendly interface.

Boarding Safely on Indian Railways

Now that you have booked a ticket with Indian Railways and have duly checked the train timings, it’s time to board the train safely.

Arrive at least 45 minutes before the time of departure.
Check your platform number: Due to Station congestion, many trains change the platform at the last moment. Use Live Train Status to keep track of the platform number of the train.
Locate your coach position: There are markings for different coaches on the platform. Make sure that you are near the designated markings of your coach number.

Why Foreigners Love Indian Railways

For most of the Foreigners, Indian Railways isn’t just another mode of transport. Rather it is the best way to witness the Indian culture and way of life closely.

Gorgeous view: The Indian landscape filled with the mighty Himalayan Mountains, mighty rivers, vast fields and huge pasture lands mesmerize natives and foreigners alike. Unlike air travel, you don’t just arrive at the destination, you get to experience the journey.
Interaction with the locals: Train travels in India often invite social interactions. Politics, Sports and Cinema are frequently discussed. Tourists adapted to the nuclear lifestyle and isolated work spaces and find this liberating.
Affordable travel: Compared to the other travel alternatives such as planes and cars, Indian Railways provides a distinctively affordable option. This is a big plus point for budget-conscious travellers.
Food on train: Indian Railways also provide hot, fresh and tasty food delivery on train. You can easily book a train order using the RailMitra website or the dedicated application available on Android as well as iOS.

Recently a British Vlogger George Buckley went viral on Instagram for sharing his experience on Indian Railways. Mr. Buckley ordered food on the train and was surprised with the smooth and fast service.

Final Tips and Tricks

Here are few handy tips and tricks for your comfortable journey:

Book tickets as early as possible to avoid last minute booking issues.
If you are concerned about your safety on India trains, choose a day time train.
Keep your essentials such as Toilet papers, Hand Sanitizers and Power Bank.
Use locks and chains to fasten your bags.
Download a movie or TV series of your choice as Wifi coverage fluctuates on certain routes.
If possible avoid General classes. The bogies are overcrowded and sometimes it is difficult to even get a seat.
Pay attention to announcements on the Railway Station.

Conclusion

Indian train travel has something mystic about it. The experience of Indian collectivism and service displayed at the Indian Railways leaves a meditative effect on the travellers, especially foreigners.

The vibrant Indian colours, simple people and fiery spices of the local delicacies leaves an everlasting mark on people visiting the country. The Beatles experienced it. Steve Jobs experienced it, when are you going to experience it?

FAQs for Foreigners on Indian Railways

Q. Can Foreigners book train tickets through the Indian Railways website?

Ans: Yes foreigners can easily book train tickets through the Indian Railways website. They can book tickets under the General ticket booking process or through the Foreign Tourist Quota reserved especially for them. They just have to provide the International Phone Number for OTP verification, Passport Number and International Debit/Credit Account for payment.

Q. How early can Foreign tourists book tickets on Indian Railways?

Ans: Foreign Tourists can book tickets on Indian Railways through the Foreign Tourist Quota 365 days before the Date of the departure. Through The General Ticket booking they can book a ticket 60 days before departure while Tatkal allows booking one day before departure.