New Delhi, Sep 8: Booking a train ticket in India is increasingly becoming a smartphone-based experience, with passengers relying on digital platforms for everything from checking availability to making reservations.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has said that nearly 89 per cent of reserved railway tickets are now booked online, highlighting how quickly digital ticketing has become part of everyday train travel.
IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director Rahul Himalian said third-party platforms, including Paytm, MakeMyTrip, ixigo and ConfirmTkt, together account for around 28 per cent of online railway ticket bookings. Paytm was specifically mentioned among the major platforms serving passengers through the IRCTC network.
IRCTC’s own digital platforms continue to handle a large part of online bookings, while authorised business partners have created additional options for passengers. These platforms allow travellers to search for trains, check seat availability, make payments and track their bookings from their mobile phones.
The growing use of third-party platforms reflects a broader change in the way people plan their journeys. For many passengers, especially those who regularly travel between cities, booking a ticket through a mobile app has become quicker and more convenient than visiting a reservation counter.
The digital shift is also creating a wider travel ecosystem around railway services. Payment companies, online travel platforms and technology providers are increasingly becoming part of the passenger journey, offering features such as PNR tracking, train-status updates and other travel-related services.
For passengers, the biggest benefit is convenience. A journey that once required a visit to a railway reservation centre can now be planned and booked within minutes using a smartphone.
The growing dependence on online booking also places greater importance on reliable digital infrastructure. With heavy demand during festivals, holidays and peak travel periods, railway booking systems need to handle large numbers of users while ensuring smooth and secure transactions.
The trend underlines how India’s railway system is steadily moving towards a more digital passenger experience. As smartphone and internet use continues to expand, online platforms are likely to play an even bigger role in how Indians plan and book train journeys.