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written by the people who run the trips

The Journal.

Practical writing about travelling with elderly parents — visas, knees, food, insurance, and what actually goes wrong. No listicles.

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57 articles

Category: Trains in IndiaClear filter ×

First Tatkal booking: prepare the account and check the train’s origin date - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 5 min read

First Tatkal booking: prepare the account and check the train’s origin date

Prepare an authenticated IRCTC account, count Tatkal opening from the train’s origin, and check quota, passengers, payment record and cancellation risk.

27 Oct 2026
Find a train’s longest scheduled halt: compare only your travel section - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

Find a train’s longest scheduled halt: compare only your travel section

Read arrival, departure, halt and journey-day columns in an official train schedule. A Punjab Mail example separates a timetable comparison from a safe break.

27 Oct 2026
Drinking water on a train: plan a sealed supply and a verified refill - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

Drinking water on a train: plan a sealed supply and a verified refill

Start with identifiable drinking water, inspect unopened bottles and ask about the actual refill point. Railway maintenance plans do not certify every tap.

27 Oct 2026
A railway pickup: agree the meeting point and verify the driver - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

A railway pickup: agree the meeting point and verify the driver

Confirm the actual exit, permitted pickup point and booked vehicle before moving the family or loading bags. Uber guidance is an operator example, not a gate map.

27 Oct 2026
Rail travel without reading Hindi or English: a show-to-staff journey card - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

Rail travel without reading Hindi or English: a show-to-staff journey card

Prepare a private journey card in your preferred language, then confirm the train and destination with railway staff. Language support is request-and-check.

27 Oct 2026
What Should I Do If the Train Stops for Only Two Minutes? - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 5 min read

What Should I Do If the Train Stops for Only Two Minutes?

A two-minute halt can be enough if you prepare before the train arrives: know your coach, stand where it stops, bags closed and in hand. How to board, get off, and what to do if it goes wrong.

26 Oct 2026
How Do I Find an Elevator at an Indian Railway Station? - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

How Do I Find an Elevator at an Indian Railway Station?

Lifts and escalators exist at about 600 stations, mostly big ones (Dec 2023 figures). Wherever yours is, find it by following the accessibility signage and asking station staff - and call Rail Madad 139 for help, including wheelchair assistance requests.

26 Oct 2026
How Do I Book a Railway Cloakroom for Luggage? - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 4 min read

How Do I Book a Railway Cloakroom for Luggage?

Railway cloakrooms are walk-in counters - no online booking as of 2026. Carry a locked bag, your train ticket and a photo ID, and confirm current charges and the storage limit at the counter.

25 Oct 2026
How Do I Use a Station Retiring Room During a Long Connection? - Trip Keeper
Trains in India · 5 min read

How Do I Use a Station Retiring Room During a Long Connection?

A retiring room gives you a bed at the station during a long connection. You need a valid PNR (RAC works, waitlisted does not), rooms book for 12-48 hours or hourly at select stations, and cancellation has slabs. The full how-to.

25 Oct 2026
← Journal ☏
written by the people who run the trips
The Journal.

Practical writing about travelling with elderly parents — visas, knees, food, insurance, and what actually goes wrong. No listicles.

57 articles

Category: Trains in IndiaClear filter ×

First Tatkal booking: prepare the account and check the train’s origin date - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 5 min read First Tatkal booking: prepare the account and check the train’s origin date Prepare an authenticated IRCTC account, count Tatkal opening from the train’s origin, and check quota, passengers, payment record and cancellation risk. Find a train’s longest scheduled halt: compare only your travel section - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read Find a train’s longest scheduled halt: compare only your travel section Read arrival, departure, halt and journey-day columns in an official train schedule. A Punjab Mail example separates a timetable comparison from a safe break. Drinking water on a train: plan a sealed supply and a verified refill - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read Drinking water on a train: plan a sealed supply and a verified refill Start with identifiable drinking water, inspect unopened bottles and ask about the actual refill point. Railway maintenance plans do not certify every tap. A railway pickup: agree the meeting point and verify the driver - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read A railway pickup: agree the meeting point and verify the driver Confirm the actual exit, permitted pickup point and booked vehicle before moving the family or loading bags. Uber guidance is an operator example, not a gate map. Rail travel without reading Hindi or English: a show-to-staff journey card - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read Rail travel without reading Hindi or English: a show-to-staff journey card Prepare a private journey card in your preferred language, then confirm the train and destination with railway staff. Language support is request-and-check. What Should I Do If the Train Stops for Only Two Minutes? - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 5 min read What Should I Do If the Train Stops for Only Two Minutes? A two-minute halt can be enough if you prepare before the train arrives: know your coach, stand where it stops, bags closed and in hand. How to board, get off, and what to do if it goes wrong. How Do I Find an Elevator at an Indian Railway Station? - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read How Do I Find an Elevator at an Indian Railway Station? Lifts and escalators exist at about 600 stations, mostly big ones (Dec 2023 figures). Wherever yours is, find it by following the accessibility signage and asking station staff - and call Rail Madad 139 for help, including wheelchair assistance requests. How Do I Book a Railway Cloakroom for Luggage? - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 4 min read How Do I Book a Railway Cloakroom for Luggage? Railway cloakrooms are walk-in counters - no online booking as of 2026. Carry a locked bag, your train ticket and a photo ID, and confirm current charges and the storage limit at the counter. How Do I Use a Station Retiring Room During a Long Connection? - Trip Keeper Trains in India · 5 min read How Do I Use a Station Retiring Room During a Long Connection? A retiring room gives you a bed at the station during a long connection. You need a valid PNR (RAC works, waitlisted does not), rooms book for 12-48 hours or hourly at select stations, and cancellation has slabs. The full how-to.

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