IRCTC Downtime Hits Passengers Again: Book Train Tickets Offline

In a disruption that affected millions of passengers, the IRCTC website and app faced downtime for the third time in December, halting online train ticket bookings. The outage briefly impacted users who were attempting to secure Tatkal tickets, especially during peak hours. The issue, which surfaced on Tuesday, was resolved within a short time, with the website back online by approximately 11:17 AM.

Earlier this month, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had faced similar outages on December 9 and December 26. During such downtimes, passengers still have alternative options to secure tickets. The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters at railway stations continue to function, providing an offline ticket booking facility. These counters are operational from 8 AM to 8 PM daily, although working hours may differ depending on the location. At PRS counters, passengers can book, cancel, or modify their train tickets, ensuring they are not entirely dependent on the website or app during outages.

For those who need to cancel tickets during IRCTC downtime, the process involves filing a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR). Passengers can reach customer support through the following numbers: 14646, 08044647999, and 08035734999. Additionally, cancellations can be processed via email at [email protected].

This outage comes at a time when train ticket booking and cancellations have become increasingly digital, with IRCTC's systems experiencing occasional lapses. Despite this, the state-run service has introduced new rules for train ticket reservations, effective from November. Passengers can now book tickets up to 60 days in advance, a change from the previous 120-day Advance Reservation Period (ARP) policy.

RCTC Downtime Hits Passengers Again in December: Book Train Tickets Offline