When you make plans for a journey, the first and foremost thing you should do is to check the seat availability. Without seats it is very difficult to travel in a train, especially when you are with your family or when it is a long-distance journey. When there is overnight journey, you are also offered a berth on which you can sleep comfortably at night. Getting a confirmed seat ensures a comfortable train journey.
You can check the availability of seats in a number of ways like checking at the enquiry at the railway station, through travel agents and call centers, on mobile phones and online on the website of Railways and IRCTC. When you book seats online, you often get discounts and other attractive offers.
When booking tickets, you have the option to choose the seats you prefer, like the window seat, lower berth, upper berth, middle berth, etc. Your preferred seat will be allotted to you if it is available. In case it is already allotted, you will have to adjust with whatever seat you get. Senior citizens and physically challenged people are given lower berths for their comfort.
Group booking is possible for people traveling in groups. Students, pilgrims and sport persons often travel in groups and they can avail this option along with discounts. You also get a lot of concessions when you travel in trains.
The government is planning to add more trains during peak seasons, and increase the number of seats and coaches in new trains, to overcome the major problem of seat availability.
