A reserved ticket may be booked for any train on the Indian Railways network from any originating station to
any destination (subject to distance restrictions and availability of quotas) at any of the Computerised Reservation
Centre, across the country. Tickets for onward and return journey may also be booked from any Computerised Reservation Centre.
Tickets may be got reserved 90 days in advance, excluding the date of journey at the
train originating station. At intermediate stations where the train arrives the following day, reservation can be done 91 days in advance. In the case of some intercity day express trains, the advance
reservation period is less.
The reservation status will be clearly indicated in the ticket. The status can be either confirmed or RAC or waitlisted or combination thereof. If the ticket is confirmed, coach and berth numbers will be mentioned on
the ticket in all classes other than First Class and AC First Class. In case of First Class and AC First Class,
the word “Confirmed” will be printed alongside the class of travel. If the ticket is in RAC (Reservation against
Cancellation)/Waitlisted status, the same will be mentioned on the ticket. As passenger holding an RAC
ticket can board the train. He will be provided with sitting accommodation initially and allotted a berth (in case of passengers not turning up) in the train.
Waiting list passengers are not supposed to board the reserved compartment.
While every effort is made to ensure a comfortable, hassle-free journey, Indian Railways are not liable to compensate a passenger due to non-provision of reserved accommodation or for any losses suffered due to late
running of trains and other such unintended eventualities which are not willful or deliberately perpetrated.
For the convenience of the passengers, Indian Railways have exclusive counters where they can reserve their tickets through credit card. This facility is presently available only at important
Computerised Reservation Centres. A additional service charge of Rs. 30/- is levied when reservation of tickets is done on a credit card.
Reserved tickets can be booked through mobile phones also. The procedures for booking is similar to that of booking tickets through internet. For details, the website
http://www.irctc.co.in may be visited. Tickets may be booked through the authorized Rail
Travellers’ Service Agents (and Railway Tourist Agents), on payment of prescribed charges. No separate reservation quotas have been assigned
to these agents and their staff has to take their turn in the queue at the Reservation office for purchasing rickets like any
other passenger. Addresses and phone numbers of these Travel Agents can be obtained from the Station Managers.
Source: Ministry of Railways |