Travelling by train is one of the delights in India, although for longer trips it is advisable to go first-class and/or air conditioned. You can book tickets at major hotels and some travel agents (these invariably attract a booking fee), or directly from the central computerised booking office at Train Reservation Complex, in Central Station. Tourists can get tickets via the tourist quota; it can get crowded so start queuing early.

Trains are run by Indian Railways (website: www.indianrail.gov.in). If you plan to make many journeys, buy a copy of Trains at a Glance (available at most station newsstands and some city bookshops) and also see www.seat61.com/India.htm for general information on train travel in the country. The Indrail pass, available in many countries, gives you unlimited travel for a certain period (for further details see www.indianrail.gov.in and click on the Information/International Tourist link).

Chennai has two main stations: Central Station (reservations line: 1361) is the arrival and departure point for most major destinations in the country, including trains to Mumbai (26 hours), Bengaluru (Bangalore) (5 hours), Kolkata (28 hours) and Delhi (30-33 hours).

Approximately 1km (0.6 miles) east is Egmore Station, dealing mainly with routes in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including Madurai (8 hours) and Trichy (5-6 hours).

For more information check out www.southernrailway.org.