Train Ticket Booking

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Most Booked Train Ticket Routes

MAS (Chennai) to SBC (Bangalore)Search TrainsSBC (Bangalore) to MAS (Chennai)Search TrainsCSMT (Mumbai) to PUNE (Pune)Search TrainsPUNE (Pune) to CSMT (Mumbai)Search TrainsMAS (Chennai) to CBE (Coimbatore)Search Trains
CBE (Coimbatore) to MAS (Chennai)Search TrainsMYS (Mysuru) to SBC (Bangalore)Search TrainsMAS (Chennai) to MDU (Madurai)Search TrainsMDU (Madurai) to MAS (Chennai)Search TrainsSBC (Bangalore) to MYS (Mysuru)Search Trains

Book IRCTC Train Tickets Easily with redRail

Earlier, booking train tickets required you to physically visit ticket reservation centers and stand in long queues for hours. However, thanks to recent technological advancements, you can book train tickets online from your home. redRail by redBus is an online railway ticket booking platform that allows you to book tickets for your preferred trains in just a few minutes.

With the super-convenient and user-friendly interface of redRail, all you need to do is enter a few details such as your origin station, destination station, and the date of travel. The platform will then instantly display the list of available trains traveling through your route on your preferred travel date. Since redRail is an IRCTC-authorized ticket booking platform, you can book tickets with confidence without worrying about authenticity. So, whether planning a business trip or going on vacation, opt for redRail by redBus and make your train ticket booking process smooth and hassle-free.

Step-by-step Guide to Online Train Booking with redRail

You can book train tickets from redRail in just 5 steps. Here's how to book and pay for a rail ticket online.
1 Visit redRail and Choose Journey Date
For booking a ticket train, you need first to visit the redRail platform. On the website, you can choose the date of your journey, as well as the boarding and destination stations. Then, click on 'Search trains' to proceed with the booking.
2 Select Class and Look for Available Trains
In the next step of rail ticket booking, you will need to select the class. You can choose first class, second or third AC, or sleeper. You can check the categories available and then choose the train. There will be multiple trains available, and you can easily select the best one for your journey.
3 Add IRCTC User ID and Passenger Information
Once you have selected the train, you will need to add your IRCTC user ID. Since you are opting for an Indian railway booking ticket, you need an IRCTC account. If you do not have an IRCTC username, you can consider creating one.
4 Choose a Method for Payment
To complete your online railway ticket booking, you can then proceed to the payment. Choose from numerous payment options on redRail and complete payment to process your booking.
5 Enter IRCTC Password to Confirm the Booking
This is the final step in booking a train ticket from the redRail site. Enter your IRCTC password, and your booking will be processed instantly. You will receive the train tickets in your email or mobile number.
Online Train BookingSelect Train ClassEnter IRCTC UsernameTrain Ticket PaymentIRCTC Password

Why should you choose redRail for IRCTC Ticket Booking

You may use the IRCTC ticket booking site to purchase your train tickets. But the procedure can be difficult due to technical issues with the website. However, this is not something you need to worry about when choosing trains online from redRail. Take a look at the reasons why you should opt for redRail.

  • Authorized Partner of IRCTC
    The reason for choosing redRail for IRCTC train ticket booking is that it is the authorized partner of IRCTC, so all information available is authentic. You can rely on redRail to find the best trains and book tickets without any problem.
  • Cancellation with Refund
    If you opt for an Indian railway booking ticket through redRail, you can easily cancel the ticket if necessary. The cancellation policy for the ticket will be provided to you, and you will get a refund for most bookings. redRail also provides instant refunds for train ticket bookings done through UPI payment modes.
  • Round-the-Clock Customer Assistance
    The redRail support staff is available at all times to help you with bookings. You can contact customer service if you face any issues with train ticket bookings online. The support staff will provide immediate assistance.
  • Amazing Train Ticket Discounts and Offers
    With redRail, you get access to exciting discount offers and deals from time to time designed to help you save more on your train journey. With first time booking offers, redRail may levy zero service fees or additional payment gateway charges at the time of train bookings.

Get Your Train Booking PNR Status

Along with train ticket booking, you may also check PNR easily and quickly on redRail's website or app. You can check your PNR status by following these steps:

Step 1 - From the redBus home page, navigate to the redRail homepage by clicking on the redRail icon.

Step 2 - Select the PNR Status option.

Step 3 - Enter your 10-digit PNR number and press the "Check Status" button.

Step 4 - The most recent PNR status will be provided to you.

Examine the available information to determine if your train ticket is still on the waitlist or confirmed and if there have been any adjustments to the train itinerary, reservation details, or anything else.

You can check the PNR Number in the days going up to the departure date. The PNR status will display all railway reservation-related information.

IRCTC Train Ticket Booking Timings

The train ticket booking timings may vary depending on the travel class and the type of ticket that you wish to book. Here’s a table outlining the different ticket booking timings for the different travel classes and types of tickets.
Train Ticket TypeOnline Train Ticket Booking Timings
General and non-Tatkal Tickets 12.20 AM to 11.45 PM on all 7 days of the week including Sundays
Tatkal TicketsFor AC travel classes - 10.00 AM to 11.00 AM on all 7 days of the week including Sundays.
For non-AC travel classes - 11.00 AM to 12.00 PM on all 7 days of the week including Sundays

IRCTC Train Ticket Price

The price of a train ticket depends on different factors such as the type of train, the travel class, the distance between the point of origin and destination, and the age of the passenger among others.
For instance, the price of non-AC classes like Sleeper Class (SL), Second Sitting (2S), and Chair Car (CC) tend to be far lower than those of the AC classes such as AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, and AC First Class. That’s not all. The ticket prices of special trains like the Vande Bharat Express and the Vistadome also tend to be much higher than regular passenger trains.
The IRCTC train ticket price includes the base fare, reservation charge, superfast charge, catering charges (if any), and GST. Here’s a table outlining the railway ticket booking concessions available for different categories of passengers.
Passenger CategoryRailway Ticket Booking Concession
Children under the age of 5100% concession
Children aged between 5 and 12 years 50% concession
Students (general category)50% concession
Students (SC and ST category)75% concession
Passengers with Disabilities (Divyangjan)25% to 75% concession depending on the train, the travel class, and the nature of the disability
Patients with certain notified diseases or ailments50% to 100% concession depending on the nature of the disease or ailment, travel class, and the train
Allopathic Doctors with minimum MBBS qualification10% concession
Note: The concessions are applicable only on the base fare. No concessions are available on any of the other charges levied by IRCTC.

Train Ticket Booking Cancellation

If you’ve made an online train ticket booking via the IRCTC website or the redRail app, you can easily cancel your reservation within a few minutes. However, you should keep in mind that you can cancel your e-ticket only up until the time of chart preparation. Once the chart is prepared, you cannot cancel your e-ticket. Instead, you will have to file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) online to receive a refund, if eligible. Charts are prepared on the previous night for trains starting up till noon. 

If you’re traveling with your family or as a group, you can cancel the train booking entirely or choose to only cancel the tickets of a certain set of passengers individually. Once you cancel a train ticket, you will receive a refund, only if eligible, after the deduction of cancellation charges. These charges will vary depending on factors such as the travel class and the time of initiation of the cancellation process. 

Process to Cancel IRCTC Train Tickets

Canceling booked train tickets is simple and can be done within a few minutes. If you wish to cancel a train ticket that you booked via the redRail platform, here’s what you need to do.

Cancellation of Train Tickets via redRail

  • Step 1: Log into the redRail smartphone application using your user credentials. 
  • Step 2: Tap on the ‘My Bookings’ tab at the bottom of the app. 
  • Step 3: Your booked tickets will be displayed in this section. 
  • Step 4: Tap the booking that you wish to cancel and proceed to complete the cancellation process. 
  • Step 5: If you’re traveling with a group, you have the option to cancel the tickets of all of the passengers or only a select few. 
  • Step 6: Once you’ve canceled the ticket, it will show up under the ‘Canceled’ tab.

The amount that you paid for booking the train ticket will be refunded to the original payment method after deducting the respective cancellation charges. If you had paid for your ticket via UPI on redRail, you may even be eligible for instant refunds on ticket cancellations.

IRCTC Train Ticket Cancellation Charges

The cancellation charges levied by IRCTC will vary depending on factors such as the travel class and the time of initiating the cancellation. Check out the table below outlining the applicable charges for the cancellation of confirmed tickets before chart preparation.
Time Until Scheduled Departure Train Ticket Cancellation Charges (Per Passenger)
More than 48 hoursAC First Class and Executive Class - Rs. 240 + GST.
AC 2-Tier and First Class - Rs. 200 + GST.
AC 3-Tier, AC Chair car, and AC 3-Tier Economy - Rs. 180 + GST.
Sleeper Class - Rs. 120 + GST.
Second Class - Rs. 60 + GST
Between 12 to 48 hours 25% of the train ticket fare subject to the minimum amounts mentioned above + GST
Between 4 to 12 hours50% of the train ticket fare subject to the minimum amounts mentioned above + GST
You may opt for Free Cancellation for selected trains to save on cancellation charges imposed on IRCTC train booking.

Different Quotas for IRCTC Ticket Booking

There are several types of train ticket bookings in India, including:

  • General Quota: This is the most common type of booking and is open to all passengers. Train Tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance.
  • Tatkal Quota: This booking is for passengers who need to travel at short notice. Tickets can be booked one day in advance of the journey.
  • Premium Tatkal Quota: This booking is similar to Tatkal Reservation but is more expensive and is intended for passengers who need to travel at very short notice.
  • Ladies Quota: This booking is reserved for female passengers and can be booked up to 120 days in advance.
  • Lower Berth Quota: This booking is for senior citizens, differently-abled passengers, and pregnant women.
  • Foreign Tourist Quota: This booking is for foreign tourists visiting India.
  • Duty Pass Quota: This booking is for government officials and employees of public sector undertakings travelling on official duty.
  • Parliament House Quota: This booking is for Members of Parliament and other dignitaries.
  • Defence Quota: This booking is for defence personnel and their dependents.

It is important to note that availability and eligibility for these different types of bookings may vary depending on the train and route.

IRCTC Tatkal Ticket Booking

Tatkal tickets are under the tatkal scheme of the Indian Railways, which is also available for online railway booking. Here, you can book the train tickets within a short period of one day before departure. However, these tickets’ prices are higher than the standard ones. The price hike can be 10-30% from the base price and will differ for each class.

Tatkal tickets are available just one day before departure, while standard tickets can be booked anytime. Tatkal online train booking can be tricky. Since only very few tickets are allotted for tatkal booking, it all depends on your luck. You will only be able to give a preferred berth, but there is no guarantee that you will get the same. Tatkal tickets can be booked for up to 4 passengers in a single ticket or PNR.

Confirmed tatkal tickets are non-cancellable. If you get a ticket on the waiting list, you can cancel it, but standard cancellation charges are applicable. There will not be a partial cancellation for the tatkal tickets.

About IRCTC

IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, responsible for managing online ticket booking, catering services, and tourism activities related to the Indian Railways. IRCTC was established in 1999 to improve the passenger experience and provide modern and efficient services to Indian railway users.

IRCTC is the official website of the Indian Railways for online ticket booking, which allows users to book train tickets, check seat availability, and access various other travel-related services. In addition, the website has several features, such as e-catering, tourist trains, and travel insurance, among others.

Besides ticket booking, IRCTC manages other services such as catering, tourism, and online shopping. It operates a chain of food plazas and restaurants across various railway stations in India, providing quality food and beverages to railway passengers. 

IRCTC has played a significant role in modernizing the Indian Railways and improving the passenger experience, by providing a range of services and facilities to millions of Indian railway users.

IRCTC has recently announced its partnership with redBus to facilitate train ticket booking via the redRail.

Essential Train Travel Tips for a Smooth Train Journey in India

If you’re planning to travel by train, there are a few tips that you can follow to ensure that your journey is smooth, comfortable, and hassle-free. Here’s a quick overview of 5 of the most essential tips that you should follow.

  • Always Plan Your Trip in Advance

Due to the sheer volume of passengers relying on Indian railways for traveling between cities and towns, you may find it difficult to get confirmed tickets. Therefore, it is always a good idea to plan your trip and book train tickets in advance unless it is an emergency. For an unplanned or impromptu trip, you can use the Tatkal train ticket booking scheme of IRCTC to get reserved tickets. However, remember that the Tatkal ticket booking scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis, which means there’s no guarantee of getting confirmed tickets.

  • Book Only From IRCTC-Authorized Platforms

Online platforms are the easiest and most convenient way to book train tickets. You can use the IRCTC ticket booking platform or an IRCTC-authorized partner like redRail by redBus to book your train tickets. Remember that tickets booked using unauthorized platforms or applications are illegal and may even be cancelled without notice.

  • Pre-Order Food Online

It may only sometimes be practical or possible to bring your own food along with you during long-distance train travel. To address this limitation, IRCTC has introduced a unique platform called ‘Food on Track.’ Through this platform, you can pre-order food from various restaurants online. Once placed, your food order will be delivered right to your seat when the train makes a scheduled stop at the chosen station.

  • Check For Linen Services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCTC had suspended all bedroll and linen services for all trains temporarily. However, with the pandemic behind us, IRCTC has slowly resumed providing bedroll and linen services, starting with a few select trains. If you’re traveling via any AC classes, checking if the linen services are available beforehand is advisable. If the services haven’t been resumed for your particular train, you may have to carry your own blankets.

  • Secure Your Luggage

It is always a good idea to secure your luggage when traveling via a train, especially if you’ve been allotted the middle or upper berths. Almost all trains in India are provided with links under the seats. You can chain your luggage to these links to ensure they remain safe and secure till the end of your journey.

FAQs about Train Ticket Booking

What different modes of payment does redRail have?
redRail has various payment options for IRCTC ticket booking. You can pay via credit or debit cards, net banking, or UPI. Choose the most convenient option for you to pay and confirm your ticket.
Do you need to pre-book train tickets?
When booking train tickets, it is best to pre-book. Train seats get filled up very quickly as most people prefer to travel by rail. Therefore, you should book your train ticket as early as possible.
How to cancel a train ticket on redRail?
To cancel your train booking, you need to visit redRail. Go to "My Bookings" and select the train booking. Now if you're traveling with others, you can either cancel the ticket for all or select specific passengers and cancel their reservations only.
What is the maximum number of people you can book train tickets for?
IRCTC train ticket booking rules state that you can book a ticket for a maximum of 6 people. If you are booking a Tatkal ticket, then you can book for only 4 people.
Will senior citizens get a discount?
On March 20, 2020, Indian railways removed the concession for senior citizens due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, currently, there is no discount for senior citizens.
Does redRail allow cancellation after the date of departure?
You cannot cancel a train ticket after the date of departure. According to IRCTC online booking rules, you will not receive any refund if you cancel.
What is 2A and 3A in Train Reservation?
In Railway Reservation, 2A refers to the Second AC class, which is air-conditioned and considered a more comfortable and luxurious class of service, and 3A refers to the Third AC class, which is also air-conditioned but considered less luxurious than 2A.
Is it possible to show the train ticket on my phone?
You certainly can! redRail now allows users to book train tickets on their mobile phones. After booking, a M-ticket will be emailed to you, which can be shown at the time of travel.
Is it Possible to Obtain a Refund on Tatkal Tickets?
No. According to the cancellation rules of IRCTC, you cannot receive a refund for canceling confirmed Tatkal train tickets. However, in the case of cancellation of waitlisted Tatkal train tickets, you can get a refund subject to the deduction of applicable cancellation charges for waitlisted tickets.
How many days in advance can a railway reservation be made?
You can make your IRCTC railway reservation 120 days in advance.
Are there any concessions for children and infants on trains?
Indian Railways provides a few concessions for individuals traveling with children. For instance, if your child is less than 5 years old, you don’t have to obtain a train ticket for them. And if your child is between 5 and 12 years of age, you need to only pay 50% of the base fare.
Can I check the running status of my train on redRail?
Yes, redRail has a “Train Running Status” feature. You can check the running status of the train by entering the train number.