Taking a train in India is one of the best experiences of travel in the subcontinent. There is always an element of adventure to a journey on the rails, and India Railways is an adventure not to be missed. Here is everything you need to know before travelling by train Jaipur to Agra.
- Jaipur to Agra
- What is it really like?
- Options by train Jaipur to Agra
- Which train to choose?
- Our (honest) review
- Things to know before traveling by train
- Classes of train travel in India
- Boarding at Jaipur Junction (JP)
- Arriving in Agra (AF, AGC)
- Tickets
- Food
- Toilets
- Accommodation in Jaipur and Agra
Is there a direct train Jaipur to Agra?
Yes. The good news (before we get onto ticket and the impenetrable booking system of India Railways) is that there is a direct route by train from Jaipur to Agra.
What is it really like taking a train in India? Is it as bad as you hear?
The trains Jaipur to Agra are express train services and they are a fantastic way to travel in India. And spoiler alert; it is nothing like you imagine conjuring up images of riding on the roof with crowds of locals.
Albeit India Railway does move 23 million passengers daily around the country. (That’s not a typo by the way!). But making the journey by train Jaipur to Agra can be smooth and comfortable.
Give or take a few chapati and the crowds and potentially cows congesting the station itself. You could – almost – be anywhere in the world.
- Read our complete guide to train travel in India.
Train options operating the route from Jaipur to Agra
There are in fact 19 trains that cover the route by train Jaipur to Agra!
It is a convenient way to travel between the two cities. But there are differing services with some super-fast daytime trains and some that depart overnight and travel very slowly.
To keep options simple (it is actually easy), these are main daytime trains from Jaipur to Agra that connect the two cities.
- AII AGRA FORT SF EXPRESS #22987
Departs daily from Jaipur (JP) at 8:10am arriving at Agra Fort (AF) at 12:45pm taking 4hrs 35mins.
- AII SEALDAH SF EXPRESS #12988
Departs daily from Jaipur (JP) at 14:40pm arriving at Agra Fort (AF) at 20:25pm taking 5hr 45mins.
- AII AF INTERCITY #12196
Departs daily from Jaipur (JP) at 16:55pm arriving at Agra Fort (AF) at 21:40pm taking 4h 45mins.
Which train Jaipur to Agra should I pick?
The fastest of those options and most convenient time of day to travel by train Jaipur to Agra is on the AII AF EXP.
- AII AGRA FORT SF EXPRESS #22987 / AII AF EXP
This train departs from Jaipur Junction (JP) every day at 8:10am and arrives at Agra Fort (AF) Railway Station in Agra at 12:45pm.
Our (honest) review of taking the AII AF EXP train from Jaipur to Agra
Over the last two years we’ve visited India six times and travelled at least that many times by train from Jaipur and Agra including on our Group Trips. We find the daily AII AF EXP train the most convenient time of departure and because it has air condition Chair Class (CC) it makes for a comfortable and mid-distance train journey.
I’ll explain more about the different classes of train soon, but if it is your first time taking a train in India, this style of train travel is the most relaxing. (It can be relaxing!).
Many people arrive in Delhi by air and their first journey in India is Delhi to Jaipur by taxi or with a private driver. So, the train from Jaipur to Agra might be the first experience with rail travel in India. But it’s a great first-time train journey.
It is a manageable journey time with less than half the day allocated to travel. And Jaipur Junction (JP) Railway Station is a vibrant and busy departure point without being overwhelmingly huge.
We reckon it’s a great, easy and comfortable train journey in India. And, in case you aren’t planning on any other train journeys on your trip, then for sure, getting the train from Jaipur to Agra is a cool Indian experience.
Things to know before traveling by train from Jaipur to Agra
If this is your first train journey in India, it’s a good place to start. The train from Jaipur to Agra is a straightforward one and if you are traveling on the AII AF EXP it is comfortable and a nice time of day to be journeying by rail.
The main things to know before taking a train in India is all about the boarding and where to stand on the platform.
Starting at Jaipur Junction (JP) Railway Station to catch the train from Jaipur to Agra
The first thing is to check you eTicket and find these details:
- Train Name and Number
AII AF EXP #22987
- Platform
eg. PL 2
- Carriage
eg. C3 or C4
- Seat
eg. 23 or 24
Arriving at the station in Jaipur, look for the large electronic board with the scheduled departure times, expected arrival/departure times and the platform numbers.
You can confirm the platform number by using your train name or number.
Waiting at Jaipur Junction (JP) Railway Station
There are two waiting lounges at Jaipur (JP):
- Executive Lounge
- AC Class Waiting Room
The Executive Lounge is a fully air-conditioned facility, where railway passengers can stay while waiting for their trains. The cost to wait in the Executive Lounge is 200 INR for two hours, subject to availability.
The Executive Lounge is located on Platform 1 which is at the main station entrance from the Gopalbari area side.
The AC Class Waiting Room is also air conditioned with seats for passengers traveling in 1st or 2nd Class or Chair and Executive Class (1A, 2A or CC, EC). There is no charge for waiting inside, you simply need to show your ticket on entry to the Waiting Room.
Boarding the train at Jaipur Junction (JP)
When the train is next scheduled to arrive in Jaipur, here are the steps for finding your seat and boarding the train.
- Using the details on your eTicket and matched to the departure board; find the platform for your train from Jaipur to Agra.
- On the platform you will see small digital signs above the platform that change between showing the train number (eg. #22987) and carriage number (eg. C2 or C3).
- Find the corresponding carriage number on your eTicket and stand by the digital sign.
- When the train arrives, confirm the carriage number on the outside of the carriage matches to the digital sign above the platform.
- Board the train and find your seat (eg. 23 or 24).
This may sound obvious, but the system of finding your carriage number on the digital signs before the train arrives is important. Indian trains can be VERY long, and you don’t want to be running from one end of the platform to your carriage at the other end.
Download the IXIGO App before traveling anywhere by train in India
This app is a game changer for travel by train in India. You can input your ticket number or PNR number and the app updates whether your train is running on time.
It also – importantly – shows you a map of the train and correspondingly where you carriage is located in the length of the train. This is the handiest feature for finding where to wait on the platform before boarding.
Booking tickets
Once you have decided which train from Jaipur to Agra fits your India itinerary, the next step is tickets.
Because trains in India get booked in advance I recommend buying tickets online before you travel. (Preferably before you arrive in the country). Or alternatively if you have a travel agent or booking contact in India it might be easier to book through them ahead of time.
Otherwise there are three options for you to book and buy tickets for the train to Jaisalmer:
- Go to a railway station (in Delhi) and book in person when you arrive
- Book online directly from Indian Railways at the IRCTC websitewww.irctc.co.in
- Book online through third party 12GoAsia.
Because there are limited options for fast and daytime trains from Jaipur to Agra I recommend booking online through ticketing agency 12go.asia.
You can type in the different options for dates, days and classes of travel and pay by credit card.
To use the IRCTC website you will need a VPN to book train tickets from outside of India. And there is the added challenge of needing a local Indian contact phone number (which most often defeats the purpose of even using a VPN while out of the country).
But the IRCTC website is useful to see exactly when and which days there are tickets available for the trains from Jaipur to Agra.
- Read our complete guide to train travel in India and how to buy tickets for India Railways.
About classes of train travel in India
There are eight different classes of train travel in India, and it can be more than a little overwhelming trying to decipher the class codes for a first time.
These are the classes listed below in descending order according of price per fare.
- First Class (1A)
- Second AC / 2-Tier AC (2A)
- Third AC / 3-Tier AC (3A)
- AC Executive chair class (EC)
- Seated AC / AC Chair Car (CC)
- Sleeper Class (SL)
- General / Second Class Seats (2S, II)
- Unreserved General Class (UR)
However, the decision of which class to take for the train from Jaipur to Agra is more straight forward as not all these classes are available on every train.
Classes of travel on the train Jaipur to Agra
None of these trains from Jaipur to Agra offer First Class (1A) seating. However, the AII AF EXP and AII AF INTERCITY have Chair Class (CC).
- #22987 AII AGRA FORT SF EXPRESS: 2S, CC, 3A
- #12988 AII SEALDAH SF EXPRESS: SL, 3A, 2A
- #12196 AII AF INTERCITY: 2S, CC, 3A
We always opt for Chair Class (CC) if it is available for short-mid distance train travel.
The seats in Chair Class (CC) are set out like on an aeroplane with three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other.
About the train Jaipur to Agra and what to expect – can you get food and water on board?
Yes. There are multiple shops and kiosks at Jaipur Junction (JP) where you can buy packaged snacks and drinks.
On board the train there are staff routinely coming through the carriages selling water, drinks, chips, Chai and snacks.
- Tip: If you have spare time at Jaipur Junction (JP) waiting for your train, check out the beautiful murals in the main hall and see if you can find this entertaining sign at one of the snack shops on the Platform 1!
About the train Jaipur to Agra and what to expect – are there toilets (usable) on board?
There are toilets on board the train. They will likely be in the condition you would expect for the busy route by train from Jaipur to Agra.
However, there will be a squat toilet and Western style toilet between carriages to choose from. And in case you wanted to know but didn’t want to ask about using a squat toilet in South Asia (we’ve done the research).
Arriving in Agra
There are two main railway stations in Agra:
- Agra Fort (AF)
- Agra Cantt (AGC)
The AII AF SF EXPRESS arrives at Agra Fort (AF) station. This is not a huge railway station (by Indian railway standards) so it is easy to find your way out and get a rickshaw or taxi to your accommodation in Agra.
Where to stay before and after taking the train from Jaipur to Agra
These are the hotels and accommodation we use regularly on our travels in India and that we can recommend for your trip.
- Jaipur / Mid-Range: Jaipur Haveli
Incredible old haveli home in heart of Jaipur. Highly recommend with beautiful rooms and great attention to detail and very friendly staff and owners.
- Agra / Mid-Homestay: Aman Homestay
Very friendly family-run homestay with rooftop views of The Taj Mahal. Great rickshaw driver service and home cooked meals.
- Jodhpur / Budget-Boutique: Raj Mandir Boutique Homestay
Good location in Blue City, spacious room with small balcony inside Haveli style home. Tiny little doors, lots of unique decor and artefacts.
- Jaisalmer / Budget: The Wanderlust Guesthouse
AMAZING guest-house! We love staying here and can highly recommend. Great rooms; rooftop restaurant overlooking the fort; awesome camel safaris! - New Delhi Airport / Mid-Range: Taurus Sarovar Portico [beautiful hotel only a few km’s from Delhi International Airport. A great first stop arriving in India with buffet breakfast included and a restaurant onsite.
- Delhi / Budget: Hotel Hari Piorko
Good location in the heart of the Main Bazaar, Delhi. Close to restaurants and train station. No view from rooms.
- Delhi / Budget: Smyle Inn
Extremely basic hotel in small back alley but with very friendly, helpful staff and simple breakfast included. Just off Main Bazaar.
More about travel planning for India and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- Skyscanner– This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before riding those trains in India!
Read more from travel in South Asia
- How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
- Our complete packing list for travel in India.
- Taking an overnight train in Pakistan.
- How to apply for a Pakistan e-Visa: And can you use it at the Wagah Border?
- Crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan.
- Pakistan with kids: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan.
- Using ATM’s, withdrawing and carrying your money safely in India.
