I have discovered the best way to buy a tix. is @ the Foreign Tourist Travel office in major cities. The best is in DEL (open 24 h) located on the 2nd floor of the station. I also used the one in BOM.

IMO, the on line train schedule for India Rail is unreliable. I found many trains which fit my schedule - only to discover they don't run on Sat, the train is late, canceled, etc. Deal with the experts.

Also, a word of warning for FTs looking for the DEL travel office. On arrival at the stn., you will be met with hundreds of guys who want to show you where to buy tix. They will tell you all kinds of stories to get you to come to their office - across the street. My friend succumbed to this odious practice. I asked India Rail why they don't crack down on these re-sellers. The answer - its a lost cause.

These hucksters are destroying India Tourism, and the government is powerless.