IRCTC's New rules for train tickets booking online: All you need to know

New Delhi : The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have introduced new rules for booking railway tickets through its online portal. From now, passenger can book online tickets 120 days in advance, excluding the date of journey.

Six tickets can be booked monthly from one user ID. In case the user is Aadhaar-verified, he she can book 12 tickets monthly from single user ID. A maximum of two tickets can be booked from one user login during 8-10 am.

Take a look at the new rules set down by IRCTC for booking train tickets online.

1. Tatkal tickets can be booked a day before travel, starting 10 am for AC coaches and 11 am for sleeper class.

2. From a single user ID, only two Tatkal tickets can be booked in opening Tatkal from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

3. In case of Tatkal bookings, a maximum of six berths/seats can be booked at a time for a specified journey between any two stations served by the train subject  to distance restrictions in force.

4. Only one Tatkal ticket can be booked in a single session (except return journey).

5. Single page or quick book services are not available between 8 am and 12 noon. 

6. One user can have only one log-in session at a time. Captcha is available at login, passenger detail and payment web pages. 

7. Agents are allowed to book tickets between 8 am and 8.30 am, 10 am and 10.30 am and, 11 am and 11.30 am.

8. Authorised travel agents cannot book Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after online reservation opens. 

9. The standard time to fill up passenger details online is 25 seconds. The minimum input time for Captcha on passenger details page and payment page is 5 seconds.

10. For payment through net-banking, subscribers of all banks will now have to verify themselves with a one-time password (OTP).

Also, the passengers can now claim refunds in three possible cases mentioned below:

1. If the train doesn’t depart within three hours of the scheduled departure.

2. If the train’s route has been diverted and he/she doesn’t want to travel on that changed route.

3. If a passenger has been shifted to a lower class than what the ticket was booked for provided he/she doesn’t want to travel in the changed class. But, if a passenger is willing to travel in the lower class, he/she will be paid back the difference.