For the people who love traveling and have an inherent passion towards exploring newer locations every year in India, Train traveling is the most preferred and economical mode. If you are an NRI traveling to India or you are a resident of India, you must have opted for traveling via Indian Railways. With ever expanding Indian population, trains are the most preferred mode of travel in India. There are a galore of services which you can opt for while planning your travel. Irctc official website hosts a wide range of services which you can avail while planning your journey. Here are the list of services and ways to avail them:

Register on IRCTC Website (Indian Residents)

In order to avail services, one needs to register as a user. Here are the requirements for registering on IRCTC website:

• Individual Registration is FREE.
• A Valid, active e-mail ID.
• A working Phone Number.

Registration Process:

• One can head over to IRCTC website and click Sign-up.
• Fill-in all the details- Chose unique user ID and Password.
• Upon Submission, a Pop-up will ask if you have subscribed to IRCTC news letter or not.
• Accept the terms and conditions.
• User will receive a verification code sent over by e-mail id and registered mobile number.
• One can head over to log-in and enter the verification codes to verify e-mail and phone details.
• Upon submission, the user is now registered to avail services.

Registration on IRCTC Website (NRI/ International Travelers)

• International / NRI user with Residence Country other than India have to pay registration fees Rs 100 + GST
• Valid mobile number and valid email id are mandatory to register International/NRI.
• Please click on sign up link on home page.

Registration Process:

• One can head over to IRCTC website and click Sign-up.
• Fill-in all the details- Chose unique user ID and Password.
• Upon Submission, a Pop-up will ask if you have subscribed to IRCTC news letter or not.
• Accept the terms and conditions.
• User will receive a verification code sent over by e-mail id and registered mobile number.
• One can head over to log-in and enter the verification codes to verify e-mail and phone details.
• After successful registration, one can login and pay the registration fee.
• Upon submission, the user is now registered to avail services.

Booking E-Tickets At IRCTC Website

One can book tickets from multiple web portals, but it’s always advisable to book your tickets from IRCTC official website. Here’s how one can book tickets at IRCTC website:

• Login to your account using the Username and Password used at the time of registration.
• The “Plan My Travel” page will appear asking you to enter details of stations you are planning to commute as From & To.
• Chose the journey date when you wish to travel.
• Upon submission, one would be directed to a page containing list of all the available trains connecting the two stations.
• Each of the train will have details in terms of arrival/departure time, week days on which the train is running, classes available for booking.
• One can select class for checking availability for a particular train.
• To book tickets in a particular train, one can click on “Book now” and the user will be re-directed to booking page where one can enter all the details as Name, Age, Gender, Birth Preference, Meals & Senior Citizens (if applicable).
• Fill in the Captcha code and enter mobile where you want to receive the details of e-ticket bookings.
• Upon Submission, one would be re-directed toward the payment options.
• Use can opt to pay via multiple available options such as Credit card, Debit Card, Net Banking, BHIM, IRCTC E-Wallet or e-paylater.
• Upon successful payment, an e-ticket will be generated and a notification of the same will be sent to mobile number and registered e-mail ID’s.
• One can just show the booking message received along with valid ID proof to travel in Indian Railways.

Note: Government of India is now going to make it mandatory to have Aadhar number for booking e-tickets.

Booking Tatkal E-Tickets At IRCTC Website:

• Login to your account using the Username and Password used at the time of registration.
• The “Plan My Travel” page will appear asking you to enter details of stations you are planning to commute as From & To. Choose “Tatkal Option”.
• Chose the journey date when you wish to travel.
• Upon submission, one would be directed to a page containing list of all the available trains connecting the two stations.
• Each of the train will have details in terms of arrival/departure time, week days on which the train is running, classes available for booking.
• One can select class for checking availability for a particular train.
• To book tickets in a particular train, one can click on “Book now” and the user will be re-directed to booking page where one can enter all the details as Name, Age, Gender, Birth Preference, Meals & Senior Citizens (if applicable).
• Fill in the Captcha code and enter mobile where you want to receive the details of e-ticket bookings.
• Upon Submission, one would be re-directed toward the payment options.
• Use can opt to pay via multiple available options such as Credit card, Debit Card, Net Banking, BHIM, IRCTC E-Wallet or e-paylater.
• Upon successful payment, an e-ticket will be generated and a notification of the same will be sent to mobile number and registered e-mail ID’s.
• One can just show the booking message received along with valid ID proof to travel in Indian Railways.

Tatkal tickets can be booked two days prior to the journey date only and the timings are 8:00 A.M for booking in A.C coaches and 10:00 A.M for booking in Sleeper Class (SL).

How to Cancel E-Tickets At IRCTC website

In case you missed your train, you can file TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) for the same. For journey plan changes, one can cancel e-tickets at IRCTC web portal. Here’s the step by step process for cancellations:

• Log-in to your IRCTC use account.
• Headover to “My Transactions” in the ribbon bar.
• Click on “Booked Ticket History”.
• Select the ticket to be cancelled.
• Click on “Go For Cancellations”.
• Chose the passenger names for cancellations.
• Click on “OK” tab.
• An electronic slip would be generated for ticket cancelled.
• Cancellation charges as applicable would be deducted.

Tour Bookings Via IRCTC

One can plan tour packages from official IRCTC tourism booking portal. All the tailor made tour packages are listed on IRCTC website along with tour charges. Tour packages can be planned for domestic or international travel. Through this portal, one can book multiple services such as booking for bed rolls, cabs etc.

How to Cancel Counter Tickets At IRCTC website

1. Enter PNR Number, Train number along with Captcha at https://www.operations.irctc.co.in/ctcan/SystemTktCanLogin.jsf
2. Select check box to confirm that rules and procedure are read.
3. After click on submit an OTP will be sent on mobile number given at the time of booking, enter the received OTP and click submit.
4. After the OTP is validated PNR details will be displayed on the screen.
5. After verifying the details Click on ‘Cancel Ticket’ for full cancellation. Refund amount due will be displayed on the screen.
6. An SMS will be sent with PNR and refund details. Sample format: “Your PNR xxxxxxxxxx has been cancelled. Collect refund amt xxxxx from journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations. Ref. Terms & conditions”
7. For tickets cancelled (including return journey tickets) before 24 hours of scheduled train departure time:
   • Refund of fare as permissible can be collected on submission of original PRS counter ticket from any PRS counter of Indian Railways upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure time of the train in case of confirmed tickets and upto thirty minutes before the scheduled departure time of train in case of RAC/waitlisted tickets.
8. For tickets cancelled (including return journey tickets) between 24 hours and upto 4 hours for the confirmed tickets and upto thirty minutes for RAC/waitlisted tickets before the scheduled departure time: Refund of cancelled PRS counter tickets through IRCTC website or 139 at present is permitted only at the journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations by surrendering original journey ticket. Please check the convenience of collecting refund from journey commencing station before cancelling your ticket
   • During first two hours of the opening of PRS counters on the next day for the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure as under:- time is (i) between 1801 hours and 0600 hours.
   • Upto 4 hours after the scheduled departure of the train during the working hours of PRS counters/current counters/special counters where cancellation is permitted round the clock on the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure time is (i) between 0601 hours and 1800 hours.

Finding Authorized IRCTC Agents for Ticket Booking Assistance:

One can book tickets via authorized agent. In order to know the list of agents for availing tickets from IRCTC. one can visit the Nget agent search portal. Entering area code  will provide the list if available authorized agents.

Booking Meals for Train Travel:

This is one thing that every human being would strive for while traveling via Indian Railways. One can pre-book meals either at the time of booking tickets or also on the journey day. Food booking in trains can be done either by two modes:

• Book Via IRCTC Food on track app: Travelers can enter their PNR details mentioned on tickets and chose the food they would like to have during train journey. For assistance, one can call at 1323.
• Book Food in train via authorized IRCTC catering partners: IRCTC has partnered with major food partners like Railrestro to supplement catering orders. Booking food in train can be done either via website or Railrestro App or on call at 8102888111.

How to Check PNR Status

In case your ticket is in waiting list, one can check the PNR status at IRCTC official PNR tracking website or also at Check PNR Status of your ticket.

It has been made pretty easier for any person to book tickets/food/tours/bed rolls etc. via IRCTC. This comprehensive post elaborates on the key features and ways to avail those services from IRCTC while planning your journey in India.

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