Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) officially launched the beta version of its completely redesigned railway ticket booking website on 15 July 2026. The new platform is now live at irctc.co.in/eticket/, where passengers can explore the redesigned interface, book train tickets and share their feedback before the final version is released.
This is the first major redesign of the IRCTC ticket booking website in more than two decades. The existing platform, which has been serving passengers since 2002, currently handles an average of 14.5 lakh online ticket bookings every day. Instead of making minor improvements, Indian Railways has rebuilt the entire booking interface to provide a faster, simpler and more user-friendly experience.
The new beta website has been designed and hosted by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the technology arm of Indian Railways. According to the Ministry of Railways, the redesign was carried out after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed user feedback, including suggestions submitted by students of the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur.
IRCTC Beta Website at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Portal | irctc.co.in/eticket/ |
| Launched | 15 July 2026 (Beta) |
| Developed By | CRIS |
| Managed By | IRCTC |
| Registration Required | Yes (New Users) |
| Existing Login Works | Yes |
| Status | Public Beta |
Official IRCTC Beta Website URL
You can access the new IRCTC beta website at irctc.co.in/eticket/. The existing IRCTC homepage also displays a direct link to the beta platform, allowing users to switch between the old and new websites.
If you already have an IRCTC account, you can sign in using your existing username and password. There is no need to create a separate account for the beta website. However, new users must complete the standard IRCTC registration process before booking train tickets or using other online services.
Why Did IRCTC Launch a Completely New Website?
The idea for redesigning the IRCTC website gained momentum after students from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur shared their experience with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. During the interaction, they highlighted several usability issues on the existing website, especially the repeated CAPTCHA verification that often consumed valuable time during Tatkal ticket booking, where even a few seconds can make a difference.
In addition to CAPTCHA-related concerns, the students also suggested improvements to the website's layout, navigation and overall user experience. The Ministry of Railways considered this feedback while developing the new beta platform, resulting in a cleaner interface that is easier to navigate across desktop and mobile devices.
At the same time, Indian Railways has also upgraded the Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which is the central booking engine used for train ticket reservations across IRCTC and other railway reservation services. As a result, both the website interface and the underlying reservation system have been modernised together.
How Much Has the Booking Capacity Increased?
| Service | Previous Capacity | Upgraded Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Online ticket bookings per minute | 32,000 | More than 1,50,000 |
| PNR enquiries and train information requests per minute | 4 lakh | More than 40 lakh |
With the upgraded reservation infrastructure, the system can now handle more than 1.5 lakh ticket bookings per minute, compared with the earlier capacity of around 32,000 bookings per minute. Similarly, its capacity to process PNR status checks and train enquiries has increased from approximately 4 lakh to more than 40 lakh requests per minute.
These improvements are intended to reduce congestion during peak booking periods, particularly during Tatkal reservation hours when millions of passengers access the portal simultaneously.
Services Available on the New IRCTC Beta Website
The redesigned IRCTC beta website brings almost every railway-related online service under a single navigation menu. Instead of searching through multiple pages, passengers can access ticket booking, train enquiries, meal services, loyalty benefits, travel alerts and several other facilities directly from the homepage.
Train Services
The Trains section is the primary area of the website and contains all major ticket booking and journey management services.
- Book Train Ticket
- Connecting Journey Booking
- IRCTC Trains
- PNR Status Enquiry
- Cancel e-Ticket
- Train Schedule
- Track Your Train
- FTR Coach/Train Booking
- Dogs/Cats Booking
- Link Aadhaar Card with IRCTC Account
- Counter Ticket Cancellation
- Counter Ticket Boarding Point Change
- Download Official IRCTC Mobile Apps
Food Ordering Services
The Meals section allows passengers to explore food-related services available during their train journey.
- Book Food through e-Pantry
- Order Meals using e-Catering
- View Cooked Food Menu
IRCTC Loyalty Programme
Passengers enrolled in the IRCTC Loyalty Programme can manage their loyalty benefits and compare available co-branded credit cards from this section.
- About IRCTC Loyalty Programme
- Compare Co-branded Credit Cards
- IRCTC SBI Credit Card
- IRCTC Bank of Baroda Credit Card
- IRCTC HDFC Credit Card
- IRCTC RBL Credit Card
- Add Loyalty Account
IRCTC eWallet
The eWallet section provides information about the official IRCTC digital wallet and explains how passengers can use it for quicker ticket payments.
- About IRCTC eWallet
- IRCTC eWallet User Guide
Travel Alerts
The portal includes a dedicated Alerts section where passengers can view important travel advisories issued by Indian Railways. During the beta launch, the homepage also displays an advisory reminding passengers to check the latest train running status, platform number and coach position before beginning their journey.
Additional Travel Services
Besides railway ticket booking, the portal also provides quick access to several other travel-related services operated by IRCTC.
- IRCTC iPAY
- Bus Booking
- Flight Booking
- Hotel Booking
- Holiday Packages
- e-Wheelchair Service
- Promotions and Offers
Help and Contact
The Contact Us section brings together the official customer support channels for ticket booking, payments and other portal-related services. Contact numbers and support details are covered separately later in this guide.
What's New in the IRCTC Beta Website?
The redesigned IRCTC beta website introduces several improvements aimed at making online train ticket booking quicker, simpler and easier to navigate. While some changes focus on improving the booking experience, others are intended to reduce delays during high-traffic periods such as Tatkal ticket booking.
Cleaner Booking Experience
One of the biggest changes is the removal of repeated CAPTCHA checks, distracting pop-up messages and flashing promotional graphics that were commonly seen on the previous website. The cleaner interface allows passengers to focus on searching trains and completing their bookings with fewer interruptions, especially during Tatkal booking hours.
View Seat Availability for All Classes Together
Instead of checking Sleeper, AC 3 Tier, AC 2 Tier and other travel classes one by one, the new website displays seat availability for all available classes on a single screen. This makes it easier to compare availability before selecting the preferred class.
Faster Ticket Booking Process
The booking workflow has been simplified by reducing the number of steps between searching a train and completing the payment. As a result, passengers can move through the reservation process more quickly than on the previous website.
Auto-filled Passenger Details
The portal can automatically populate previously saved passenger information, such as names, age and travel preferences, during future bookings. This feature is particularly useful for passengers who regularly book tickets for the same family members.
Fare Calendar
The new Fare Calendar allows passengers to compare ticket fares across multiple travel dates before making a reservation. It also helps users identify dates with better seat availability or lower fares without performing repeated searches.
Preferred Berth Selection
Passengers can submit berth preferences, such as Lower Berth, Side Lower or Window Seat (where applicable), while booking their tickets through the new interface.
Support for Multiple Indian Languages
The beta website includes multilingual support, allowing passengers to use several Indian languages while accessing various services on the portal.
Integrated Concession Booking
Concession-based bookings for eligible categories, including Divyangjan, students and patients, are now available through a more streamlined workflow within the same platform, reducing the need to navigate separate processes.
AI-powered Improvements
Indian Railways has introduced artificial intelligence-based capabilities as part of the redesigned platform to improve the overall user experience. Additional information about these features is expected to become available as the new website continues to evolve.
Ask Disha Chatbot
The official Ask Disha virtual assistant continues to be available on the beta website, helping passengers with common queries related to ticket booking, cancellations, train information and other IRCTC services.
Train Search on the New Homepage
The redesigned homepage places the train search box at the centre of the screen, allowing passengers to begin the booking process immediately without navigating through multiple menus. The search form includes all the essential options required for booking a train ticket.
- From: Select the boarding station.
- To: Select the destination station.
- Date of Journey: Choose your preferred travel date.
- Quota: Select the applicable booking quota, such as General, Tatkal or Premium Tatkal.
- Concession: Choose an eligible concession category, where applicable.
- Search Trains: View all available trains, classes, seat availability and fares.
The homepage also provides direct shortcuts to frequently used services, including PNR Status and Train Schedule. These options are available without opening the main navigation menu, helping passengers access important information more quickly.
RailOne App Offers the Same Upgraded Experience
The improvements introduced on the new IRCTC beta website are also being rolled out through the official RailOne mobile application. Indian Railways is aligning both platforms so that passengers receive a similar booking experience whether they reserve tickets on the website or through the mobile app.
With more than 4 crore (40 million) downloads, the RailOne app allows passengers to book train tickets, check PNR status, view train running information and access several other railway services from a single application. As additional improvements are introduced, both the website and the app are expected to offer a consistent user experience.
Official IRCTC Contact Details
If you need help with ticket booking, cancellations, payment issues or other IRCTC services, you can use the following official support channels.
Train Ticket Booking Support
- eQuery Portal: equery.irctc.co.in
- Email (Cancellation/TDR): [email protected]
- IRCTC Helpline (Within India): 14646
- International Support: +91-8044647999 / +91-8035734999
Customer support is available in 12 Indian languages, including Hindi, English, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
IRCTC iMudra Support
- Support Portal: equery.irctc.co.in
IRCTC Loyalty Programme Support
- Email: [email protected]
Co-branded Credit Card Support
- IRCTC SBI Card: 0124-39021212 / 18001801295 | [email protected]
- IRCTC Bank of Baroda Card: 1800225100 / 18001031006 | [email protected]
- IRCTC HDFC Bank Card: 18002026161 / 18602676161 | HDFC Bank Contact Page
- IRCTC RBL Bank Card: 02262327777 / 02271190900 | [email protected]
Registered & Corporate Office
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
4th Floor, Tower-D,
World Trade Center,
Nauroji Nagar,
New Delhi – 110029
When Will the New IRCTC Website Be Fully Launched?
The redesigned IRCTC website is currently available as a public beta to collect feedback from passengers before the nationwide rollout. According to the Ministry of Railways, the upgraded website and the modernised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) are expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. However, an official launch date for the final version has not yet been announced.
How to Submit Feedback on the IRCTC Beta Website
The beta version has been released so that passengers can explore the new interface and report any issues before the final rollout. If you encounter a technical problem or have suggestions for improving the booking experience, use the Feedback option available on the beta website to submit your comments directly to IRCTC.
According to the Ministry of Railways, feedback received during the beta phase will be reviewed before the upgraded website is launched for all users.
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