Shatabdi express train in India! 🚊 EC or CC?! 🚊 free food?! 🚊 Backpacking India travel blog

Hi there!

Shatabdi express trains in India are a little “higher class” than the most long-distance trains and local passenger trains.

For example the Alleppey to Cochin train for long distance trains and Gokarna to Palolem train for local passenger trains.

These aren’t luxury trains, but they do give you a little extra comfort.

Is there a big difference between EC and CC?!

There are different class tickets you can book, most notably the executive chair car class (EC) and chair car class (CC). 

These train classes both have AC.

EC is the “better” ticket compared to CC.

I have been on the Shatabdi express in both executive class and chair class when I took the train to get around in the Golden Triangle, and I really didn’t feel too much of a difference. Both of these train rides were 3-4 hours.

I guess that there is more room in EC.

Seats on the train

Plush seats!

Can you tell much of a difference in these pictures between EC and CC?! 😉

Chair car CC seats

Executive chair car EC seats

How about the food on the Shatabdi trains?

Shatabdi train tickets generally come with food! 

So you don’t need to order train food separately, and it will automatically just come around once you’re on the train. 

Food does seem to get served first on EC too.

See a little bit about food timings on the Shatabdi for breakfast and dinner.

Food options can vary!

Tray table to eat

Most seats come with a tray table, similar to what you’ll find on a plane.

There are also some seats that have a table. I happened to get a table for both of my train rides on the Shatabdi. (I didn’t specifically request this.)

Luggage storage

There’s also a luggage rack up top to put smaller luggage.

And there’s a little bit about what it’s like on a Shatabdi train!

Now have a look at “normal” trains in India, including what it’s like to take a train with a general class ticket and what it’s like to take a local passenger train!

Also see about taking the train from Goa to Hampi to see waterfalls from the train!

PLUS: How to spend one month in South India

HAPPY TRAIN RIDE ON THE SHATABDI EXPRESS IN INDIA!