INDIAN RAILWAYS

Table of Contents

1. How do I book tickets online?
2. Where can I check my current booking status?
3. How can I check out train Fares?
4. Where can I get information on trains running between different stations?
5. Where can I check availability of seats/berths on a train?
6. Where can I get train schedule i.e. the route and time of arrival at different stations?
7. Where to find trains between important stations?
8. What is auto upgradation?
9. What is Tatkal booking?

How do I book tickets online?

To book tickets online, you have to go to the online ticket reservation website. this website is hosted by IRCTC i.e. Indian Railways Catering and Courier service. To book a ticket you have to first sign up by filling a registration form. The sign up is free and it requires you to fill general information like Name, Address, Email id etc. After filling the form you have to log in using newly created username and password. Then the plan my travel and book tickets page appears. Here you can find out and select your train running between your start and destination stations. From the options displayed select e-ticket or i-ticket or tatkal as per your preference. Most probably you would be needing an e-ticket. After selecting your train and the date of journey, you can check out the availability of seats on your train. Then you have to fill a reservation form listing your name, age , sex and berth preference. If other people are accompanying you, then you have to fill the details of each passenger. If you are a senior citizen, then check adjacent box. this would entitle you to a 30 percent rebate on the fare. Also you are likely to get the lower birth.

After you submit the reservation form and the seats are available you will be asked to make the payment. For payment you can use your credit card. In case of some banks the debit card may also be used. You may also pay through direct debit from your bank account if you have enabled internet banking. Most of the popular banks like the SBI, ICICI, HDFC, Axis Bank, OBC etc provide this facility. Cash cards like ITZ cash can also be used. Once you make the payment your ticket is displayed on the screen. Do not forget to print it.

When you travel in a reserved compartment, you will need to have any one of the five identity proofs namely voter identity card, driving license, pan number card, passport or a photo identity card issued by a central or state government to is employees.

To book your tickets now click here

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Where can I check my current booking status?

To check your booking status, you should have your ticket with you. There is a 10 digit PNR number printed on the top left hand corner of the ticket. Enter this number in the the text box to know your booking status. If your ticket is not confirmed and you are on the waiting list, you can check your PNR at intervals of 15 to 20 minutes as your booking status may keep on changing. You may move up the waiting list till the passenger chart is prepared. Once the chart has been prepared, and the message appears so on entering your PNR number, you will not move up in the waiting list. The final chart is usually prepared half an hour before a train is shceduled to leave.

To check your booking status click here

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How can I check out train Fares?

To check fares for different trains, you must know the train number and the station codes. You can check  number of the train you wish to board by clicking here. To know the codes for your originating and destination stations click here. Be sure to select the class you wish to travel in by using the drop down box. More importantly remember to check whether you fall in any category that entitles you to a discount, you may get a pleasant surprise. Different discounts are available for different types of people like doctors, nurses, certain categories of patients, scouts, senior citizens, professional artists etc. If you are an unemployed youth travelling for a job interview, you get 100 percent concession in the sleeper class!

To check your travel fare click here

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Where can I get information on trains running between different stations?

To check trains running between different stations  click here. Be sure to select the class in which you wish to travel. Also type the exact date of your journey in the box provided.

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Where can I check availability of seats/berths on a train?

To check availability of seats/berth on trains running between specific locations click here. Be sure to select the class in which you wish to travel. Also type the exact date of your journey in the box provided.

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Where can I get train schedule i.e. the route and time of arrival at different stations?

It is always interesting to know your route i.e. at which stations your train will halt on the way and at what time. May be you can call your relatives or friends to meet you at the station. Also if you want to see a particular station on the way you can know before hand the time of arrival at that station.

To know the schedule of a train in which you wish to travel click here

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Where to find trains between important stations?

To find trains connecting different metros of the country click here

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What is auto upgradation?

The Railway has introduced a new scheme called auto upgradation. You have to select this option while booking your ticket. Under this scheme your ticket is automatically upgraded to the next higher class available on the train in case of a vacant seat/berth. If you opt for auto upgradation, make sure before boarding whether your class has been upgraded. You will also have to pay the extra fees.

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What is Tatkal booking?

If you have to travel in case of an emergency, on a short notice, you can still get a reserved seat/berth under the Tatkal (immediate booking) scheme. A specific number of seats ranging from 10 to 50 are reserved for Tatkal booking on certain trains. The booking for Tatkal starts at 8:A.M. every morning. Usually all seats available are taken up within a few minutes of opening.

To know about availability of seat under Tatkal scheme on different trains click here

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Disclaimer : The website http://usefulpages.com is not linked in anyway to the Ministry of Railways. The above information is only for the sake of knowledge of the visitors. The links provided on this page belong to the website of Ministry of Railways, Government of India. We do not book tickets or provide any  service related to the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.