Comparison that really needs to be understood by you
It was a tradition for me to travel by train, because that's how we had to do it in my family. I know a person belonging from a normal middle class family like me can easily relate.
My father would get Tatkal (Emergency) tickets as if he's trying to defuse a bomb and my mother would pack enough food for a small village.
When I began traveling solo in India that's when I thought I knew all there was to know about traveling from one city to another. I did not.
When I had to book a last minute flight from Delhi to Goa and paid ₹11000 for a one hour flight, I realised that the question was never about which mode was the cheapest.
The real question is cheapest for which situation, which route, which traveller, and which time of year.
This article is what I wish I had before I started spending lots of money on Indian highways, railways and runways with a lot of wrong turns.
Comparison that really needs to be understood by you
India is a vast country from Delhi to Kanyakumari is about 3,700 kilometres.
The difference in cost for selecting the right and wrong mode of transport for a single journey may range from ₹500 to ₹10,000.
Most travel articles offer you a "generic" answer. This one provides you with a particular one.
The right answer varies based on your route, when you depart, how early you book and what you are valued, whether money, time or sleep.
Indian Railways is one of the largest rail networks in the world, with more than 67,000 kilometres of track and connecting major cities and towns across the country.
So, take one thing from this article: in India, trains are nearly always the cheapest way to travel between 300 km and 1,500 km.
What the cost of trains actually is
The price of a Sleeper Class ticket for Delhi to Mumbai (1,400 km) is around ₹700 – ₹1200.
3AC (Three Tier AC) takes the same time to travel at a cost of ₹15 00-2800.
2AC costs ₹2,200–₹2,800.
The prices are all inclusive sleeping berths. You're paying for both moving and lodging.
That's compared to a budget hotel room for one night (₹800-₹1,500) + a separate bus ticket and the numbers speak for themselves.
When Trains Win Completely
If traveling overnight (8+ hours) sleep, arrive, and save on one night of hotel.
For non-directly available routes Varanasi to Kolkata, Jaipur to Jodhpur and Chennai to Madurai.
If you book tickets 60-90 days before the date (IRCTC) the rates are lowest and the availability of berths is highest.
Travelling with luggage - no luggage fees, good luggage allowances, no 20kg mayhem at check-in.
If you prefer to see India rather than fly over the country - what you see through the window of the train from Vizag to Chennai or Konkan Railway from Mumbai to Mangalore is just one of the great travel experiences the country has to offer.
When Trains Let You Down
Last minute bookings Tatkal fares are 30-50% more than regular fares and the first come first served principle is followed.
However, with very long distances (1,500 km +), the cost of the journey takes over the cost savings.
Routes that lack connectivity – some northeastern States and coastal areas remain poorly served.
Festival season – Diwali, Holi, Eid – confirmed tickets get sold out months ahead of time and waitlisted tickets cause a lot of stress on any journey.
Budget carriers (IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India Express) provide base fares from ₹3,000 to ₹5500 on competitive routes on a 6-8 week advance booking.
Once you add on the airport fee, convenience fee and baggage charges, it comes to a realistic cost of ₹4,700 to ₹5,488 on a budget of domestic flight.
For last minute tickets (taken within 7 days of the travel date) you would often find these tickets priced at ₹7000 to ₹15000 on the popular routes.
During business and peak travel months especially in December, January and during the school holidays, prices in all brackets are significantly higher.
When Flights Win Completely
For distances of more than 1,500 km and if travelling time in a train takes more than 20 – 24 hours (Delhi to Chennai, Mumbai to Kolkata, Delhi to Guwahati etc.).
Booked 6-8 weeks ahead on a competitive route – in some cases money-saving even if on 2AC train.
If time is really more valuable than money, then a 2-hour flight as opposed to a 28-hour train trip is a true cost for many working professionals.
In the North-Eastern region of India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh) where train connectivity is restricted and road travel time is quite long.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, there is no other solution.
When Flights Let You Down
These costs make the saving of the initial ticket appear as if it is free, but in reality it isn't: checked bags, airport transfer, arrival 2 hours early, food on the airport, cab from the destination airport to the city centre.
The price of the budget flight turns less appealing when you add the cost of airport transfers at both ends, ₹800 to ₹2,000.
Not every airport is a city centre: Bangalore's airport is 40 km from the city, Hyderabad's airport is 35 km from the city, Delhi's IGI airport is 20 km from the city and so on. Take this into account while calculating the cost of every flight.
If the distance covered is short to medium like Delhi to Jaipur (280 km), Mumbai to Pune (150 km) or Bangalore to Mysore (150 km), there is no point at all in travelling by air. There is never a time when it is not better to train or bus.
Indian buses, especially its private overnight Volvo and semi-sleeper offerings, are a lot better than they're rated.
An overnight bus is often the best option for trips of 150 km to 500 km — it is a time and money saver.
What is the actual cost of the bus?
The intercity government buses (KSRTC, MSRTC, RSRTC) charge ₹150–₹600 for most of their trips.
The private Volvo AC sleeper buses on popular routes (Bangalore to Goa, Delhi to Manali, Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Hyderabad) range from ₹600 to ₹1,800.
The likely cost of an overnight bus fare from Bangalore to Goa is ₹800 to ₹1,400; you would spend less than a night's hotel stay for the fare.
The service providers like RedBus, AbhiBus etc. can integrate across operators and provide real time price comparison.
When Buses Win Completely
Short to medium journeys where the trains are not that frequent and not that convenient – Mumbai to Pune, Bangalore to Mysore, Delhi to Agra, Ahmedabad to Udaipur.
Routes that go over night with Volvo sleepers, you get in at 10pm and 6am, no hotel needed. Pune to Goa, Bangalore to Hampi, Delhi to Manali are some of the classic ones.
If trains are full and you don't wish to pay Tatkal rates – a private Volvo bus is a true comfortable ride.
If there is no train connection to the hill stations/mountains where you are going, like Manali, Spiti, Coorg, Munnar, Kasol, McLeod Ganj etc.
Buses are a convenient option for budget travellers travelling solo, as they run often during the day on most intercity routes, and you can book up to hours in advance without hefty penalties.
When Buses Let You Down
If you're traveling to a very long destination (700-800 km, or about a 16-hour bus ride would be rougher on the body than a train with a sleeping berth, plus it is usually much slower) you should use a train.
Some roads (especially in the mountains) are in poor condition and travel times are unpredictable, as is the possibility of getting sea-sick.
Safety: standards are reasonable for private Volvo operators; but for overnight buses on some routes, it is advisable to check the operator reviews before booking.
Luggage restrictions some private operators will have different luggage restrictions than trains.
Delhi to Mumbai (1,400 km)
Train wins — Rajdhani 3AC at ₹1,800–₹2,200, 16 hours. If you consider airport transfer fees it only makes sense to book flights 8+ weeks in advance which cost less than ₹2,500.
Bangalore to Goa (600 km)
Bus wins — overnight Volvo sleeper at ₹900-₹1400 is fresh in the morning. Train is available but times are not ideal. This is an unreasonable distance to cover by flying.
Delhi to Kolkata (1,450 km)
Train wins on budget Rajdhani 3AC at ₹2,000–₹2,500, 17 hours. Flight wins on time — 2.5 hours, ₹3,000–₹5,000 if booked in advance.
Mumbai to Goa (600 km)
Train wins - Jan Shatabdi or Konkan Kanya in Sleeper at ₹400-₹700. The Konkan Railway coastal route is also truly a beautiful one. Bus is a good substitute.
Delhi to Manali (550 km)
There will be no railway connection to Manali, only bus connectivity. Overnight Volvo from Delhi at ₹1,000–₹1,800. There is a flight to Kullu (Bhuntar) but it is costly and depends on weather.
Bangalore to Chennai (350 km)
Train wins — Shatabdi Express: ₹600-₹900, 5 hrs, comfortable and reliable. It is also not too expensive to hire a bus. This is an unnecessary use of a long-range aircraft.
Compare all the prices of flights after adding airport transfers, baggage charge, early arrival time cost and food at the airport. Include the savings you make on your overnight train/bus trip in addition to transport costs. Never the full price of the ticket.
Train: Book 60-90 days in advance from IRCTC for confirmed train tickets at base rates. Fares are at their lowest on IndiGo or SpiceJet if booked 6–8 weeks in advance. Book 2–7 days ahead on RedBus for good availability on popular routes. Train or flight prices increase and availability decrease each week leading up to the date of travel.
Less than 300 km always by bus or train. With no financial sense, flight makes no sense. 300 km to 800 km — train or overnight bus. Consider travel time versus overnight hotel savings. 800 km - 1500 km – train for budget, fly for time. Before making a decision, check both. More than 1,500 km — flight should really be considered, particularly if it's pre-booked and when compared side by side with train trips that last 24 hours.
Don't assume that flights are easier to book than to default.
Ignore the discomfort in the buses, a Volvo sleeper from Bangalore to Goa is better than so many budget flights!
Know how to use IRCTC before going on a trip. One registration and you save thousands of rupees on each trip.
Compare both before each intercity trip by downloading RedBus and Google Flights on the same phone.
There is no simple answer to the question of the cheapest means of transport across India. Before each booking, every time, it's a habit to check, compare and calculate the total cost, not the ticket cost.
