IRCTC Trains – How To Book Tickets, Check PNR Status, Live Train Tracking And More

The official IRCTC website is www.irctc.co.in

You can download the official IRCTC app for Android devices
You can download the official IRCTC app for iOS devices

User registration on the IRCTC website is free for individuals in India. NRI users must pay a Rs 100 registration fee. Anyone with a working mobile number and email ID can IRCTC account create. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Open https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on Register
Step 3: Enter your basic details, personal details and address. Once all the fields have been filled in, enter the Captcha code, agree to the terms and conditions and click on the Register button.

Step 4: Select the click here link to be directed to the Login page

Step 5: Log in with your User ID and password

Step 6: Enter the OTP as received to confirm your mobile number and email address

In the case of international users, before the email and mobile number verification, users will be directed to a payment page. Registration fees can be paid with credit or debit cards, eWallets, UPI or net banking.

An IRCTC agent can book an unlimited number of tickets per day.
Other users can book up to 6 tickets per month.

You can check IRCTC trains schedule with the following steps:
Step 1: Visit https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on Trains and then on Train schedule

Step 3: Enter the train number and click on the Submit button

For an IRCTC trains search between 2 stations, you will need to visit the Indian Railways Enquiry website.
Step 1: Visit https://www.indianrail.gov.in/
Step 2: Click on ‘Reserved Train between Stations’

Step 3: Enter the station you want to board at and your destination station. You can enter a specific journey date or tick the option for date flexibility.

Step 4: Enter the answer to the captcha question.
A list of trains between the 2 stations will be generated below.

You can check IRCTC train ticket availability through the Indian Railways Enquiry website.
Step 1: Go to https://www.indianrail.gov.in/
Step 2: Click on ‘Seat Availability’
Step 3: Enter the train number, journey date, source and destination station, class and booking quote. Click on Get Availability

IRCTC train ticket bookings can be made through the IRCTC website. Here’s how:
Step 1: Log in to https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: The ticket booking form is displayed on the home screen. Enter your journey details in the form fields and select the appropriate class and ticket quota. Click on the Search button.

Step 3: Click on the class abbreviation of the train you want to travel by to see seat availability. Click on the Book Now link.

Step 4: Enter details of up to 6 passengers. Enter the registered mobile number and the captcha code. Click on the Next button.

Step 5: Select a payment mode and make payment.

You can check IRCTC trains status from the IRCTC website. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Visit https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Hover over Trains and click on Track Your Train.

Step 3: Enter the train number or the train name and click on the Search button.

You can send an SMS to 139 with the message AD <train number> for IRCTC train status check.

Yes. Here’s what you need to do to check IRCTC train live status:
Step 1: Open https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on Trains and then Track Your Train.
Step 3: Enter the train number and click on the Search button.
Step 4: Select the date of travel to see live train status.

IRCTC train online bookings can be made under all the following quotas:
·       General quota
·       Ladies’ quota
·       Sr. citizen quota
·       Divyang quota
·       Tatkal quota
·       Premium tatkal quota

You do not need to submit any document at the time of IRCTC ticket booking. However, when you are travelling you must have one of the following forms of photo ID:
·       Passport
·       Aadhar card
·       PAN card
·       Voter ID card
·       Driving license
·       Student identity card
·       Government-issued ID card
·       Credit card with photograph
·       Nationalized bank passbook with photograph

You can book air tickets for most airlines from the IRCTC flight section.
Step 1: Open https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on Flights
Step 3: A new page will open. Enter your origin, destination, dates of travel and number of travelers. Click on the search button.

Step 4: Choose your flight and click Book

Step 5: Log in using your IRCTC user name and password

Step 5: Enter your passenger details and complete payment for your ticket.

You can book bus tickets through the IRCTC bus ticket website.
Step 1: Open https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on Buses
Step 3: Enter your departure and destination points and select a date of travel. Click on the search Bus button.

Step 4: Select the bus you want to travel on and click on the Select seat button. Choose a seat, boarding point and dropping point. Click on the Proceed to Book button.

Step 5: Log in to your IRCTC account and make a payment for your seat.

You can find all previously booked IRCTC train reservation details from the My account tab.
Step 1: Enter your user ID and password to log in to https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Hover over the My Account tab and navigate to ‘My Transactions’ and then to ‘Booked Ticket History’.

6 passengers can travel on one IRCTC trains ticket booking. For tatkal tickets, only 4 passengers are permitted on each IRCTC train booking.

You can check IRCTC train PNR status online by following the below steps:
Step 1: Open https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Click on PNR Status

Step 3: Enter the PNR number and click on the Submit button

You can make IRCTC tatkal bookings from the IRCTC website. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1: Log in to https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Enter the station you want to board, your destination station and date of travel on the Book Ticket form. Choose the class from the drop-down menu and select Tatkal from the drop-down menu for booking quota. Click on the Search button.

Step 3: Choose the train you want to travel by and click on the class abbreviations to get availability. Click on the Book Now link for the selected train and class.

Step 4: Enter details of up to 4 passengers. Passenger names can have up to 15 characters. Enter the mobile number for SMS notifications and the captcha code. Click on the Next button.

Step 5: Choose a payment mode and proceed to make payments to confirm the booking.

You can print a copy of the booked ticket or take a screenshot.

You can cancel IRCTC train tickets on the IRCTC website. The steps for IRCTC train ticket cancellation are:
Step 1: Login to https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Navigate to My Account > My Transactions> Booked Ticket History

Step 3: Scroll down to the ticket you want to cancel. Click on Cancel Ticket

Step 4: Select the passenger names who’s tickets are to be cancelled. Click on the Cancel Ticket button

Step 5: Click on Ok to confirm cancellation

Partial cancellation is allowed on the IRCTC website. This means you can cancel bookings for one of 6 passengers on a booking.

IRCTC online train ticket cancellation charges are liable for cancellation of confirmed tickets. The cancellation fees per passenger for cancellations more than 48 hours from the train’s scheduled departure are as follows:
·       AC I : Rs 240
·       AC II : Rs 200
·       AC III/ AC Chair Car : Rs 180
·       Sleeper Class: Rs 120
·       II Class: Rs 60
If the ticket is canceled within 48 hours but more than 12 hours from the scheduled departure/ chart preparation, 25% of the fare will be charged as cancellation fee.
If the ticket is cancelled less than 12 hours and up to 4 hours from the scheduled time of departure/ chart preparation, 50% of the fare will be charged as cancellation fee.

The steps for IRCTC train ticket download are:
Step 1: Log in to https://www.irctc.co.in/
Step 2: Go to My Transactions and Booked Ticket History
Step 3: Select the relevant ticket
Step 4: Click on Print to download and print the ticket.

The IRCTC ewallet is a way for users to deposit money online through their IRCTC accounts and use the same later to book tickets. This eliminates the payment approval cycle and thereby quickens the booking process. eWallets can be managed and topped-up online.

No, you do not need an IRCTC agent to make tatkal bookings.

The IRCTC tatkal booking fees are 30% of base fare for 1^st class and AC compartments and 10% of the base fee for second class tickets.

No, you cannot get a refund for cancelled IRCTC tatkal bookings. Refund for tatkal bookings will be given only if:
·       The train is more than 3 hours late at the passenger’s journey originating point
·       The train is diverted to another route
·       The coach with tatkal accommodation is not attached to the train and the passenger is not provided alternative accommodation in the same class

IRCTC tatkal timings are from 10am for AC tickets and 11am for non-AC tickets on one day before the day of travel till the time of chart preparation.

IRCTC premium tatkal bookings refer to seats reserved by the Indian railways and available at dynamic fare prices. The tickets are available at the same time as tatkal tickets.

The IRCTC full form is Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

IRCTC ecatering is the official portal for passengers on trains to order food online and have it delivered to their seat. Passengers can order food from any of the restaurants servicing the station at which they want a meal.

IRCTC retiring rooms are rooms available at most railway stations for passengers on a single/ double/ dormitory occupancy basis. These rooms are available as AC and non-AC rooms. Rooms can be booked for a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 48 hours.

IRCTC retiring room booking can be made for passengers with a RAC and confirmed ticket.

The IRCTC retiring room charges are:
·       Rs 20/ room for up to 24 hours
·       Rs 40/ room for 24-48 hours

The IRCTC dormitory charges are:
·       Rs 10/ bed for up to 24 hours
·       Rs 20/ bed for 24-48 hours

The IRCTC customer support number is 0755-6610661 / 0755-4090600

Read: Helpline Number Of IRCTC: Complaint Number For Railway