Indian Railways has introduced a new facility for Vande Bharat Express passengers that allows booking confirmed tickets up to 15 minutes before departure. This move is aimed at making travel more flexible for last-minute planners and ensuring better utilisation of seats that would otherwise remain vacant after a train leaves its origin station. The facility has been rolled out on selected Vande Bharat Express routes under the Southern Railway zone.
Eligible trains
Currently, this feature applies only to eight Vande Bharat Express trains operating in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. These include:
• 20631 Mangaluru Central – Thiruvananthapuram Central
• 20632 Thiruvananthapuram Central – Mangaluru Central
• 20627 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil
• 20628 Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore
• 20642 Coimbatore – Bengaluru Cantt.
• 20646 Mangaluru Central – Madgaon
• 20671 Madurai – Bengaluru Cantt.
• 20677 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada
Passengers boarding from en route stations on these trains can now take advantage of the last-minute booking window.
Step-by-step guide to book Vande Bharat tickets online
Indian Railways has updated its Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to enable real-time booking even a few minutes before departure. Here’s how you can book a ticket:
1. Visit IRCTC website or app – Go to www.irctc.co.in or open the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app.
2. Log in or sign up – Use your existing IRCTC credentials or create a new account if you are a first-time user.
3. Enter travel details – Select the boarding and destination stations, date of travel, and choose the Vande Bharat train.
4. Check seat availability – The system will show real-time vacant seats.
5. Select class and boarding point – Choose between Executive Class or Chair Car, along with your boarding station.
6. Make payment and confirm – Complete the payment using digital methods and receive your e-ticket instantly via SMS and email.
Benefits of last-minute booking
The new facility brings several advantages for travellers. It helps those making sudden plans by removing the need to rely on waitlists or alternate transport. It also ensures that vacant seats can be quickly allotted to passengers, increasing occupancy levels. Importantly, fares remain the same as standard pricing, and no additional charge is levied for booking at the last minute.
Key things to know
Is this available on all Vande Bharat trains? No, it currently applies only to eight trains in the Southern Railway zone, but expansion is expected later.
Does it cost extra? No, fares are the same as regular booking.
Can tickets be cancelled? Yes, but standard cancellation charges apply as per Indian Railways rules.
Is offline booking possible? Yes, PRS counters at stations also support this facility.
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