New Delhi: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is preparing to launch a beta version of its ticket booking website, introducing a redesigned interface and new features aimed at simplifying online train reservations.
According to IRCTC, the updated portal is intended to reduce the time required to book tickets by streamlining the booking process and improving the user experience. The changes are expected to particularly benefit passengers booking Tatkal tickets, where speed is often critical.
Booking Process To Require Fewer Steps
The redesigned portal reduces the number of steps involved in booking a ticket, from searching for trains and selecting seats to entering passenger details and completing payment.
IRCTC said the simplified workflow is intended to make the platform easier to use for both regular and first-time users while helping maintain better website performance.
Fewer Interruptions During Reservations
The beta website minimises interruptions such as repeated CAPTCHA prompts and unnecessary pop-up screens that can slow the booking process.
According to IRCTC, reducing these interruptions is expected to help passengers complete bookings more quickly, particularly during high-demand Tatkal booking windows.
Seat Availability Across All Classes On One Screen
Under the new system, passengers will be able to view seat availability for all travel classes on a single screen after searching for a train.
Instead of checking each class separately, users will be able to compare availability across Sleeper, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, Chair Car and other available categories before making a booking.
Saved Passenger Details For Frequent Travellers
The portal also introduces a feature that allows users to save the details of regular co-passengers.
With the saved passenger option, users can reuse previously entered information such as names, age and gender during future bookings, reducing data entry time and the likelihood of errors.
Updated Design For Mobile And Desktop Users
IRCTC said the new website has been redesigned with a more modern interface and simplified navigation.
The platform has been optimised for both desktop and mobile devices, with key booking options placed more prominently to improve accessibility.
Limited Beta Rollout Planned
The beta version is expected to be made available initially to a limited group of users.
IRCTC said feedback received during the testing phase will be used to refine the platform before it is rolled out more widely to passengers.
