Online Registration

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) provides the facility to book train tickets online and also provides details on a variety of schemes and special offers. In order to book train tickets through the IRCTC website, you need to be a registered user. The Registration (which is free) is a pre requisite to make you an online booking of the railway ticket.

There are many options of booking ‘electronically’. For example you can book by Internet or mobile phone (by SMS) and pay by Credit cards (Example: MASTER / VISA / DINERS CLUB CARDS) or by direct online payment from your banking accounts.

How to Book Railway Ticket Online
First step in booking a ticket online is to create a new account in IRCTC site.

Go to the new user signup page and fill your personal details to create a new account. Also there is option to select extra features like Mumbai suburban season ticket booking, mobile railway ticket booking, preferred payment option for sms based booking, registration options for SBI Railway Credit Card and Subh Yatra and signup options for special offers, newsletters and commercial offers.

Booking your Ticket
Once account is created you can login to your account and book tickets. Select your travel date, source and destination station name or code, class (sleeper/second sitting/Ac Chair Car/AC 3 tier/AC 2 tier/First Class/First Class AC) and ticket type.

i-Ticket and e-Ticket
Indian Railways offers two types of ticket through it’s online booking system. First one is i-Ticket. It is like a normal ticket which will be delivered at your doorstep in 2-3 days time. For i-Tickets you have to book the ticket at least two days in advance. i-Tickets are issued for Waiting List, Confirmed and RAC cases.

An e-ticket can be booked up to the time of chart preparation for your train. To book an e-ticket you have to enter your ID proof details like PAN Card, Voter’s ID Card, Passport, Ration Card, Central/State Govt. ID Card or Driving License. After booking just take a printout of the Electronic Reservation Slip and carry it during travel with the ID proof.

Payment Options

1. Payment by Credit Cards like Citibank Cards, Diners Club Cards, ICICI Bank Cards, American Express Cards. Agents can book through any Visa/Mater/Amex cards.
2. Payment through Direct Debit Facility – ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, IDBI, Citibank, Bank of Punjab, Oriental Bank of Commerce, UTI, State Bank of India, Centurion Bank of Punjab, Punjab National Bank, ABN-AMRO, Federal Bank, Corporation Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, IndusInd Bank, ITZ Cash, State Bank of Travancore, Andhra Bank, Icash Card, Karnataka Bank, SBI debit card, HDFC Debit Card etc.

Notes

1. For e-tickets while traveling you must carry the electronic reservation slip otherwise you will have to pay a fine of Rs 50.
2. e-tickets can be cancelled only through internet. Cancellation will be confirmed online and the money will be credited to the same back account.