Booking train tickets is set to become quicker and easier. Starting Wednesday, the Indian Railway Catering
and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is rolling out its redesigned website and mobile app with a modern interface and several new features.
The updated platform aims to make ticket booking faster, smoother, and more transparent. Along with the new design, Indian Railways has also introduced new rules for passengers booking unreserved (general) tickets online.
Faster Booking With a Simpler Design
The new IRCTC website and app come with a refreshed interface that reduces the time needed to book tickets.
Passengers will no longer have to enter their personal details every time they book a ticket. Once the information is saved in their profile, it will be filled in automatically during future bookings.
The platform also removes unnecessary pop-ups and extra screens. Seat availability for all travel classes will now appear on a single page, making it easier to compare options without switching between multiple screens.
The checkout process has also been simplified. CAPTCHAs have been reduced, while new security measures have been added to help stop fraudulent ticket bookings, especially during high-demand bookings like Tatkal.
New Rules for Online General Tickets
Indian Railways has introduced new rules for unreserved (general) tickets booked through the RailOne app.
Passengers travelling with an online general ticket must now carry an original photo ID. This rule applies only to tickets booked through the RailOne app and not to general tickets purchased from railway reservation counters.
Online general tickets will also be linked to the mobile number used during booking. Passengers cannot use a WhatsApp-forwarded ticket or a screenshot shown on another phone.
During ticket checking, the ticket must be displayed on the same mobile phone used to book it.
If a passenger shows a screenshot on a different device, they may be treated as travelling without a valid ticket and action can be taken under railway rules.
R-Wallet Bonus Extended
Indian Railways has extended the 3% bonus scheme for passengers who book general tickets using the R-Wallet feature in the RailOne app. The scheme will now continue until August 24, 2028.
The Railways has advised passengers to always carry their original photo ID while travelling and keep the ticket on the same mobile phone used for booking to avoid any inconvenience during ticket verification.
