IRCTC’s New Reservation System Set to Revolutionise Train Travel Experience

With capacity to generate 1.5 lakh tickets and handle 40 lakh enquiries per minute, Indian Railways prepares to roll out its smartest, fastest booking system yet                         Source: PIB

Indian Railways is all set to introduce a major overhaul of its Passenger Reservation System (PRS) by the end of 2025, with the aim of making ticket bookings significantly faster, smarter, and more user-friendly. According to the Ministry of Railways, the upgraded system will be capable of generating over 1.5 lakh tickets per minute, a remarkable leap from the current capacity of 32,000 tickets per minute.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the progress of this technology-driven reform and underscored the importance of a ticketing system that is efficient, transparent, accessible, and passenger-centric. He stressed that the journey experience should be smooth right from the point of booking a ticket.

In a move that is expected to improve planning for travellers, Indian Railways will now prepare reservation charts eight hours before train departure, instead of the existing four hours. For trains departing before 2 pm, charts will be ready by 9 pm the previous evening. This change will benefit passengers, especially those boarding from remote or smaller stations, by giving them more time to make alternative plans if their tickets are not confirmed.

The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is developing the new PRS to be agile, scalable, and future-ready. The system is designed to handle ten times the current load, with ticket enquiry capacity increasing from 4 lakh to over 40 lakh enquiries per minute. The revamped interface will be multilingual and easier to navigate, offering features such as seat selection, fare calendars, and special access options for Divyangjan, students, and patients.

From July 1, Tatkal bookings will see tighter authentication controls. Only authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website or mobile app. By the end of July, the process will include OTP-based verification, and users will need to authenticate their identity using Aadhaar or any other government ID linked through DigiLocker.

This comprehensive upgrade to the reservation system reflects the Indian Railways’ broader commitment to technological transformation and passenger satisfaction, signalling a new era for train travel in India.