20 Million passengers travel by train in India every day. Trains are the cheapest and most convenient means of transport. The Indian railways connect people to different destinations in the country. People who travel by train frequently need to be aware of the railway timetable. By checking the train timetable, you can get information about the train’s arrival, platforms, halts, stops, and other essential things to ensure your train journey goes smoothly. Check train timetable beforehand to book trains that cover the trip in minimum time. While booking train tickets during festivals and holidays, you must make reservations on time.
Train timetables come in handy while booking tickets since they provide the following:
- Details like departure and arrival times.
- The names of the stations from where the trains start and stop.
- The distance between the starting point and the stops.
Advantages of Checking Train Timetable
There are many advantages to checking the train timetables beforehand. Some of them are:
- Finding the Shortest Route from One Place to Another
You can find out about trains that have few stops or halt for lesser time. If you want to reach your destination early, you can compare the time taken by different trains on the same route and then book a train ticket accordingly.
- To Inquire About the Stations that are Enroute
Suppose you’re someone who wishes to buy something special from a place that falls on the way to your destination or wants to meet someone before continuing their journey. In that case, you can check the train schedule and find out when the train halts and the duration of the halt at a particular station.
- To take a Slight Detour
If you wish to explore a city or town on the way to your destination, you can check the timetable and get down at the required station. With the help of the train timetable, you can find out the next stop of your train and board accordingly.
- Order Food of your Choice
If you keep track of your train’s schedule, you can order food on time from where you need food before reaching the station.
- Journey Planning
On a long route, the trains don’t have a halt for 400-500 km. In that case, it is better to be informed about the train schedule so that you can take care of things like purchasing snacks or food and filling water bottles. There are chances of encountering a stretch where there are network problems, and you might not be able to communicate with someone on your phone. In such cases, if you check the train timetable in advance, you can plan your journey correctly.
- To Know the Train Status
It is advised to print or take a screenshot of the train’s schedule since all the halt timings and station names are mentioned along with the total distance covered. It is better to be informed about the train’s journey and route.
How to check the Train timetable?
With the help of technology, it is easy to check train timetables on your phone in this digital age. The schedules and routes of all trains are available on the official website of IRCTC. You can enter the preferred train number and check the train’s schedule. Through IRCTC, you can quickly check the train schedules and plan your travel accordingly.
Nowadays, SMS services are provided, and you can message the number provided by Indian Railways to get all the necessary information on your phone. For example, you can get information about the train schedule, accommodation availability, fare inquiry, and train departure or arrival inquiry.
Conclusion
With the advancement in technology, IRCTC has started digitizing everything to make ticket booking easier for passengers. You can get Tatkal train tickets booked online via redBus. There is no need to stand in long queues or waste time at a travel agent’s office. Anyone has the option of online train ticket booking. The online system ensures transparency, and the IRCTC train ticket booking process has been simplified for everyone. Along with train ticket booking, it is essential to know the train timetable for a well-planned journey.