The full form of IRCTC is Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. It is the subsidiary of the Indian Railways. Founded on September 27, 1999, it handles catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the organization; it offers a plethora of tourism-related services apart from train ticket booking.
IRCTC Offers a Plethora of Tourism-Related Services Apart from Train Ticket Booking.
IRCTC is an Indian Government Enterprise
IRCTC is a Government of India enterprise. Through its website, you can make reservation enquiries, PNR enquiry and train enquiry. You have all the information about various trains in India. You just need to sign up to start using the website.
View Fares, Berths and Availability
You can view fairs of various trains; and berths and availability. To do so, you just need to enter first few letters of the source station name, destination station name; then choose the class and the journey date. You will get the information. The IRCTC website is simple and easy to use. IRCTC seats availability feature is helping many travellers daily.
IRCTC Has Information on Tour Packages
You can get information about Rail Tourism India dot com’s tour packages on the IRCTC website. Maharaja’s Express, Mahaparinirvan Express Odisha Special, Steam Express and Shirdi with 03 Jyotirlinga are some tourist trains that are popular.
Flight Information Is Also Available
Swamy Sharanam Tour, Chennai-Shirdi flight package, Munnar Eco Tourism Package and Ramoji Film City Tour are some tour packages that are attracting tourists from all over the world. Information about flights, both domestic and international, are available.
IRCTC Helps You Find Good Hotels
IRCTC website helps you to find top hotels by city name. You can read reviews, see photos and compare prices before deciding. IRCTC Ginger Rail Yatri Niwas, Infopark Inn IRCTC Business Hotel and IRCTC Guest House offer top class service.
Latest Information About Indian Railways
The website offers latest information related to Indian Railways under “Alerts and Updates”. You can also book tickets through Windows App. You can dial 139 for 24 x 7 service or send SMS to 139. Indian Railways provides concessions to students. However student concession tickets are allowed only in sleeper class and second sitting tickets.
IRCTC Website Recognizes Different Classes of Travel
The system on the IRCTC website recognizes different classes of travel and their codes. These are: first class air conditioned (1A), AC 2-tier sleeper (2A), first class (FC), AC 3-tier (3A), AC chair car (CC), sleeper class (SL) and second sitting (2S).
Quotas
Various quotas are available for booking through the IRCTC website. Booking is allowed against General (GN), Tatkal, Senior citizen and Ladies (LD) quotas. You can find station codes by using the Station Code Finders available on ‘Plan My Travel’, ‘Fare Enquiry’, ‘Trains From/To and ‘Get Availability’ pages. You can get station codes by just entering the first three letters of the city.
IRCTC Website Recognizes Different Classes of Travel and Their Codes
IRCTC EWallet
Registering to IRCTC is very easy. Registration form is available on the website. Provide your personal details. You get step by step guidance while registering. Various payment options are available, like credit cards, debit cards, net banking, eWallet and cash cards. Transaction charge varies with the mode of payment.
Hassle Free Transactions
IRCTC eWallet service makes hassle free transactions possible. You can manage your account and recharge online. The service is known for quick response and fast refunds. It is gaining in popularity.
Ewallet Is a Convenience
Under eWallet scheme, you can deposit money in advance with IRCTC. Your balance in your eWallet can be used as a payment option along with other payment options allowed by IRCTC for booking tickets. It is important to note that eWallet registration and booking through eWallet is not available from 8 am to 12 pm.
EWallet Registration Procedure
EWallet registration procedure is simple. You need to login by entering your user name and password. You will view “Plan my Travel” page. You will see a link for eWallet registration.
Easy to Register
Click on “Click to register now” link. You will be redirected to verify your PAN card no. Enter your PAN card number and your name as it appears on the PAN card. After verifying your PAN card number, you will be redirected to the payment page. This is to pay your registration fee. Create a transaction password and reconfirm. This is required at the time of booking. You need to select payment option to pay the registration fee. After payment, you will be logged out. You will see a message congratulating you for registering successfully. Registration fee is non refundable.
Depositing Funds to EWallet
To deposit funds to your eWallet, you need to login. Select the option and enter the amount to be deposited. Deposit history page enables you to view the status of all deposits. All eWallet transactions can be accessed any time.
IRCTC EWallet is a Convenience
While booking your ticket, once you plan the travel and reach the payment gateway page, you will see eWallet as a payment option among other payment options. You can use the same to book the ticket. In cases of refund, cancellation amount will be credited to your eWallet account.
IRCTC On Mobile
You can use your mobile device to use IRCTC services. To use your mobile for ticket booking, you need to be an IRCTC user; have a Java enabled mobile phone; have GPRS service activated on your device; and have a credit card or cash card.
Get IRCTC App on Your Mobile Device
In order to activate the IRCTC you need to download the app. The app can be downloaded on your Apple device, Android device or Windows device. You just need to visit appropriate site and follow instructions step by step. It is very easy. After downloading successfully, you will see an icon on your device. Select the same. Set a pin, which you will be using for future logins. You can change your pin any time.
Easy to Navigate
You can navigate through IRCTC mobile easily. Currently there are four icons in the main screen: Shubh Yatra, Tourism, Offers and Booking. The main screen has “Options” menu. This menu consists of Sync, Change PIN, Move Icon, Upgrade, About and Exit.
Payment Options
You can use your credit card (Visa or Master), ITZ cash cards and direct debit. All transactions are secure. You can add any number of passengers to the passenger list. However it depends on your device.
BharatQR
BharatQR is a common QR code jointly developed by all the four major card payment companies—National Payments Corp. of India that runs RuPay cards, MasterCard, Visa and American Express—under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
In the coming few weeks, BharatQR will go live on IRCTC website. We are in talks with MasterCard and RuPay for this. Visa is already on board with us and mVisa ‘scan and pay’ option is available on the website...."
-Dewang Neralla, CEO, Atom Technologies Ltd, a payment service provider facilitating QR-based payments for IRCTC.
Date: 19.05.2017
Scan and Pay
Currently, mVisa ‘scan and pay’ option is available on the IRCTC website in its "Payment" page.
QR Code
“When you go to IRCTC website there is an option to scan and pay. Once this option is selected, the customer will be required to enter the mobile number and email-id after which a QR code will be generated on the screen. The customer has to just scan the QR code using a certified bank app and select the ‘pay’ option,” he added.
Buy Now Pay Later
IRCTC introduced 'buy tickets now and pay later' service for Express trains in 2017.
Through this service a passenger can book a ticket five days prior to the journey with a service charge of 3.5 per cent and pay it in the next 14 days.
— IRCTC spokesperson Sandip DuttaBooking Tickets is a Cakewalk with IRCTC
In order to book your ticket through IRCTC mobile, you need to register on the IRCTC website or on the IRCTC app. The website does not accept registrations between 9:30am and 11:30am.
After registration, login and select the correct From/To station route under the Plan my Journey section. Select e-Ticket option. You will get the list of trains by clicking on the Submit button.
You can get details about each train by clicking on the train name. Select the train of your choice. Choose the class available for the selected train to get a listing of the prices for each class. Select the Book Now option under Availability. You can select another train by clicking on Reset.
Enter the passenger details on the ticket reservation page. The allotment of your chosen berth depends on the availability. Select the Payment Option and your bank from the list.
Click on the Make payment option on the next page. You will be redirected to the bank website. The ticket details, availability of tickets at the particular time and the fare, including the service charge, appear on the screen, along with the payment option. You can get the printout of the reservation by clicking on the ERS button.
Book For Anyone For Any Destination
Using IRCTC mobile, you can book a train up to 90 days in advance. You cannot book on the date of journey. You can book using this app for anyone for any destination. You can book a maximum 6 seats at a time. If you do not receive ticket within 2 to 3 days of booking, you need to contact the call center. You can also mail at care@irctc.co.in.
IRCTC Is a Traveller's Friend
IRCTC website helps travelers immensely. If you are traveling in India, it is definitely advisable to use this website.
