I'm thinking of switching from the Shatabdi express to take a later train to Agra -- either the Taj Express at 9:20a.m. or the Samta Express at 8:45 a.m. Are you familiar with either of these trains? I know they won't be as comfortable as the 1AC on the Shatabdi, but are they comfortable enough? Also, I will be staying at the Hilton in Gurgaon and wanted to know how far the H Nizmuddin station is from the Hilton.

For travel time from the Hilton to Nizamuddin, you should confirm with the hotel (send them an e-mail or call now), but I believe that you will need about an hour, probably a bit more to be on the safe side. Your train departure times in the morning will coincide with morning rush hour travel into south east Delhi where the station is located (unless you are talking about a Sat or Sun morning).

The Oberoi is actually better located for Nizamuddin station if you can consider staying there. It would be about 15 minutes from the Oberoi to the station. (While a very nice hotel, the Hilton is not convenient for being a tourist in Delhi as it is too far outside; if you aren't spending any time in Delhi, than the Hilton is convenient for the airports and for doing business in Gurgaon and Noida. Not sure what your itin is as far as Delhi.)

IMO first class on either train is fine, and really even second class for that short a journey is something I would do. I don't think you would have trouble getting first class seats, I would ask your hotel to arrange for them now if you are concerned (and if you know your travel dates, but they are returnable to the best of my knowledge).

My schedule shows the Taj Express leaving at 7:15 am, and the Samta at 8:40, but my schedule is about a year old (given to me by the Oberoi people); if your schedule is newer I would tend to believe that one.

Thanks, Cicerone. I am only doing an overnight stay in Delhi before leaving the next day for Agra. I will visit Delhi at the end of my trip, which is purely vacation. I am staying at the Hilton because I will be arriving in Delhi at 11:00 p.m , and it is a nice hotel relatively close to the airport -- and I have Hilton points! Rather than getting up so early the next day to take the Shatabdi express, I was thinking about sleeping a little later and taking the Samta express, if it is a comfortable train. From the info about the trains on the India Railway website, it does not appear that eith the Taj Express or the Samta Express have first class at all. So, I was wondering whether 2d class would be comfortable enough.

Another alternative hotel is the Manor, 77 Friends Colony (West). Do you know how close that is to both the airport & the Nizmuddin train station?

For the trains, check to see if "executive class" "AC Chair" or "CC" class is offered on the Taj or Samta. Executive Class is basically the same as first class, and AC Chair and CC Chair are air conditioned and perfectly comfortable (you won't need AC at this point, but the cars are better and you get a reserved seat). 2nd class is perfectly comfortable esp for that short a journey, my only concern would be that seats may not be reserved/assigned for 2nd class on that train, and if so, you may have to kind of fight for one, as I know that train is rather popular. If there truly is no EC or AC/CC Chair class, you might ask your hotel what they advice would be about seating conditions for 2nd class (they might offer to send someone with you to assist with seating).

No hotel is located near both Nizamuddin and the international airport. Nizamuddin is in south east Delhi, just outside the centre, the international airport is south and then west of the city centre, and is significantly west of the Manor (and the Oberoi for that matter).

I would take the Oberoi over the Manor. I know that the Manor used to be recco'd by the Aman people as their preferred hotel in Delhi, but that was more because the Manor is partly owned by one of Aman's former local partners in India, not because the Manor is really a better hotel (the Aman no longer uses or recco's this hotel on their website). It is about the same distance to Nizamuddin railway station (the Oberoi is actually probably a 1km or so closer), so no real advantage there IMO. Is there a reason you picked the Manor?

Are you still certain that Taj Express leaves at 9:20 am? I am pretty sure that this train leaves at 7:15 am, as it is the other "superfast train" alternative to very early morning Shatabdi. You should confirm this.

Thanks Cicerone,

I have checked the India Railways website, and it appears there are two Taj Express trains - one at 7:15 and one at 9:20. The schedule does not show EC, AC Chair, CC, or anything else other than 2AC, and on down. I am checking with my agent to confirm about times, and class, but while I'm waiting for him to get back, thought I would try to get information about the comfort level -- very helpful to know there are no reserved seats!

As to Oberoi v. The Manor -- very simply, the Oberoi is about $500 and the mannor is $225, and the Manor has received excellent reviews on trip advisor. As you know, the prices of hotels in Delhi are skyrocketing, particularly for those of us in the US where the dollar is plummeting...

So, the choice is between The Manor (closer to the station but farther from the airport) & the Hilton( closer to the airport, but farther from the station) where I can use points for a free night.

Cicerone, As usual, you are right. It is the Lakshadeep Express that leaves Delhi at 9:20 --only has 2A, 3A, & sleeper classes. I will have a car & driver from Compass who can assist me. Because it only leaves about an hour later, it hardly makes sense to take the Taj Express instead of the Shatabdi express, so I might as well enjoy a couple more hours sleep & take the 9:20 Lakshadeep Express train if it is comfortable enough.

Actually, I would suggest you take a FIRST CLASS SLEEPER (if available to you for that short journey) and you should be fine. Should not be expensive, and the bed won't be put down. You can reserve a space. A second class sleeper should be fine too, as you can reserve seats/beds in sleepers (in fact I believe you have to). If you can reserve seats in 2A on the train, then that should be fine as well, it really is a very short trip, even if the bathrooms aren't great (but been on Amtrak lately?!) it's not like you can't survive 3 hours. Second class really is fine, it's the not fighting for a seat that is key.

On some trains you can reserve 2nd class seats, I just don't know about the Taj Express. It depends on the train. But I agree that if you don't want to get up for a 6 am train, then a 7:15 am is not much better.

Well, the Manor's price is really kind of low for the market, so that should tell you something, despite some of the tripadvisor.com comments (which I have no read; and I generally do find that site reliable). But if you can stay for free at the wonderful Hilton and sleep in at that hotel which I KNOW is quiet (a big consideration in India, believe me, and I saw comments on tripadvsior about the trains running behind the Manor), then I say do that. Also, it is a much quicker trip there from the airport, which you might appreciate coming in that night (esp if your flight is delayed) and just getting to bed rather than traveling all the way into Delhi that evening. Just leave yourself time in the morning to get to Nizamuddin. I assume your travel day into Nizamuddin is a weekday? Ask the Hilton what they estimate for time.

2A means air-conditioned two-tier sleeper. 3A means air-conditioned three-tier sleeper. Either should be fine for a day trip, although 2A will be more comfortable. SL means sleeper class, no AC, but some people prefer the view through the windows. See seat61.com's India section for pix of the compartments, and discussion of merits/demerits. I'd go for 2A, myself.

Thanks, everyone. I think I'll go for a good night's sleep at the Hilton & will take the 9:20 train (2A) -- factoring in time to get to the station with the morning rush hour traffic since it will be a Friday. Yes, I know, the Taj is closed on Fridays, but I will do my other sight-seeing that day, and then see the Taj the next day at Sunrise & again at sunset. I am concerned that it will be crowded with visitors on Saturday, but that was the day that worked out -- you can only do so much juggling on a short trip....