Hi Aishwarya, I must say - this is pretty detailed and useful!!! This message coming from a female member is a huge morale booster for a lot of Accessindians! I have been traveling with our dear Indian Railways since 12 years now and have experienced all the flavers (as rightly pointed by Bhivani sir!). Just want to add fiew of additional points: 1. Use IRCTC's website, I find it far more user-friendly as compared to the app. Also, if you are blind, using the concession card does help to get a confirmed seat and concessional fare. 2. While traveling with trains with food service i.e. Rajdhani / Shatabdi, tell the pantry boy to inform you when they are serving you, it avoids the confusion. Also, your co-passengers are more aware if you need to use the table for eating (specially helpful in Rajdhani). 3. Never ever leave the sling / small handbag on the seat unattended, you have to take it with you wherever you go. 4. Tie the shoes with your luggage as well as the hooks provided under the lower berth, keeps them in place and less chance of them getting lost. 5. Keep petty cash handy, UPI surprisingly doesn't work at some places. 6. Last but not the least, don't forget to make friends - I have met amaising people on train journeys!
Enjoy, Ajay On Sat, 19 Apr 2025 at 18:20, Aishwarya Pillai <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > > Over the past 3 to 4 years, I’ve become pretty good at traveling solo — > flights, buses, trains, you name it. Between airports, bus stations, and > railway platforms, I’ve had my fair share of interesting stories. Flights > and buses are relatively easier — airports have ground staff to assist, and > with buses, you can just hop in an Uber and reach the stop. But when it > comes to **trains**, it’s a different ball game altogether. > > From chatting with other visually impaired folks, I've realized train > travel tends to be the most challenging. So I thought, why not share a few > things I’ve picked up along the way? If you’re planning your first solo > train trip, this one’s for you. > > Ticketing Woes (and Work-arounds) > > Booking on IRCTC isn’t exactly a joyride — especially if you use a screen > reader. But once you somehow manage to get your ticket booked, you’re > halfway there. Just make sure to screenshot or save the PNR, coach, and > seat details somewhere easily accessible. > > What to Pack (Besides the Obvious) > > You’ll obviously pack your clothes, charger, toothbrush and all that, but > here are a few extra things I never travel without: > > - Wet wipes and sanitizer – Because hygiene in Indian trains is a gamble. > - Pepper spray and a whistle – I carry them just in case. Haven’t had to > use them, thankfully. > - Sling bag – Super handy. You don’t have to hold it in your hand, just > wear it across and forget about it. > - Haversack or trolley – I prefer a haversack; hands-free and easier to > manage. But if you must take a trolley, just make sure it’s not one of > those with squeaky wheels and a rebellious attitude. > - Power bank – Cannot stress this enough. Between using the Where’s My > Train app, screen readers, and calling for help if needed, your phone’s > battery will feel like it’s running a marathon. A good power bank = peace > of mind. > > Assistive Tech I Swear By > > White cane– Absolute must if you’re fully blind. It gives you a sense of > direction and makes people around you more aware too. > - Where’s My Train app – Surprisingly accessible and super useful. It > tells you where your train is, how late it’s running, and how far the next > station is. I keep checking it to stay on track (pun intended). > - AI description apps – If you’re trying to figure out your surroundings, > use apps like Seeing AI or Be My Eyes. > > Getting on the Train: My 3 Methods > > 1. Family/friend drop-off – Easiest and safest. They walk you right to > your coach and make sure you’re settled. > 2. Buggy service – Every station usually has one. Call them a day in > advance and they’ll pick you up from the entrance and drop you at your > coach. But fair warning — this service is like a moody cat. Sometimes it > shows up, sometimes it ghosts you. > 3. Porter service – Works well too. They’ll guide you to the coach and > help with luggage. If you like a particular porter, save their number for > future journeys. I usually avoid this if I’m arriving late at night though. > > On the Train: Some Math and Mapping > > Let’s say your seat is No. 40 in 3AC. > Each 3AC coach has 8 berths per compartment. That means your seat is > probably in the 5th compartment (side upper). In 2AC, it’ll be in the 6th. > It helps to mentally map the layout. > > Moving around? Count the compartments as you walk to the washroom or > basin. If you’re in the 5th, you’ll need to cross 4 to get to the pantry or > door area. Also, pro tips: > > - Trash bins are usually under the wash basin. > - Indian toilets are often to the left, western ones to the right. > - Try to finish dinner and use the washroom before everyone’s asleep — > nobody likes being the midnight ninja trying to climb down from a side > upper. > > Reaching Your Destination > > Keep an eye (well, ear) on the Where’s My Train app. When it shows your > destination is about 2 km away, that’s your cue. > Grab your bag, double check you’ve got everything (don’t forget your > phone!), and wait. > > When the train stops, the platform side is usually where the sound is > louder and people are getting down. You’ll pick it up with a little > experience. > > To exit, same options again — family or friend, buggy service (if > available), or porter. > > Final Thoughts > > The first two train journeys can feel overwhelming. I’ve been there. But > once you figure out the rhythm, it gets easier. You start building > confidence, planning better, and actually enjoying the journey. > > And hey — if you’ve had your own train travel experiences as a visually > impaired person, or have tips that helped you, please do share. The more we > talk about it, the more we learn from each other. > > Wishing you happy and safe journeys. May your phone never die and your > seat always be away from the toilet. > > With regards, > Aishwarya > > -- > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of > the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "AccessIndia" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAN1woN7iBcatXPxZBPzJPeTFcXtD6ugkvdp0ERCme61Z9w51vg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAN1woN7iBcatXPxZBPzJPeTFcXtD6ugkvdp0ERCme61Z9w51vg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Ajay Minocha Mobile: +91-9584076767 Email: [email protected] [email protected]. <[email protected]>in -- Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CA%2BhY0dJ52i2mAaSpJYZbzC7wmnES2M5O1nY5Og27jHPW9NRwYQ%40mail.gmail.com.
