Article and Research by Our Indian Correspondent.

IndRail Passes can be purchased by foreign nationals and non-resident Indians. Payment is accepted in US dollars, pound sterling and other convertible foreign currency in cash, travellers cheques and credit cards. An IndRail Pass enables the holder to travel as s/he likes, from any point in any train in the class it is issued for, with in the period of validity. Passes are available from half-day to 90 days duration and can be used within one year of issue. The validity period starts from the date of the first train journey and last journey should be commenced before the midnight of the last day.

Request for reservation can be made through the nearest General Sales Agents (GSA) abroad. No reservation fee, super fast charge or surcharge for the journey need be paid.

A First Class AC 2 day pass costs USD160 for an adult while the same pass cost USD30 by the second (sleeper) class. The rates for a longer duration increase proportionately like for example a 21 day pass for an adult by First Class AC cost USD396 while on the second class sleeper class it would cost USD100. Passes are available from 1/2day up to 120 days depending on the requirement. The specifics mentioned (an authorized GSA could give a table with complete details) are for sale only by General Sales Agents abroad.

For the sale of IndRail Passes the Indian Railways have GSAs in Australia, Canada, France, Thailand, the USA, Mauritius, Malaysia, Japan, England, Germany, Finland, the UAE, Oman and Bangladesh.

IndRail passes are also available for sale at Railway Reservation Offices at Agra Cantt, Agra City, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Aurangabad, Bangalore City, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, New Delhi, Puttaparti Town Booking Agency, Rameshwaram, Secunderabad, Trivandrum Central and Vadodara.

International Tourist Bureau

The International Tourist Bureau at New Delhi railway station deals with foreign tourists intending to travel by rail in India. It is open between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on all days except Sunday. The bureau provides assistance to foreign tourists and NRIs regarding booking, reservation, itinerary planning and other inquiries through its tourism guides and staff conversant with most commonly used foreign languages.

Computerized reservation facilities for instant booking, reservation, fax, telex, ISD and STD are arranged by the bureau along with confirmed reservations for foreign tourists through a foreign tourist quota in all classes and trains.

The ITB arranges accommodation, retiring rooms and Rail Yatri Niwases as also bedrolls in trains on demand.



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