Indian Railways Introduces Last-Minute Booking for Vande Bharat Express

Indian Railways has launched a new feature allowing passengers to book tickets for Vande Bharat Express trains up to 15 minutes before departure. This innovative option is designed to accommodate travelers with last-minute plans, enhancing convenience and accessibility. Initially available on select routes under the Southern Railway zone, this service covers key destinations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The success of this initiative could lead to its expansion across more routes.

How to Book Vande Bharat Tickets Online

To take advantage of this last-minute booking option, passengers can follow these simple steps: 1. Visit the IRCTC website or use the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app.
2. Log in with your IRCTC credentials or create a new account.
3. Enter your travel details, including boarding station, destination, and date.
4. Select Vande Bharat Express from the available options.
5. Check live seat availability.
6. Choose your preferred class—Executive or Chair Car—and confirm your boarding point.
7. Complete the payment online.
8. Receive your ticket via SMS, email, and WhatsApp.

Trains Offering Last-Minute Booking

The updated Passenger Reservation System (PRS) now supports real-time bookings for eight Vande Bharat Express trains: – 20631 Mangaluru Central – Thiruvananthapuram Central
– 20632 Thiruvananthapuram Central – Mangaluru Central
– 20627 Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil
– 20628 Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore
– 20642 Coimbatore – Bengaluru Cantonment
– 20646 Mangaluru Central – Madgaon
– 20671 Madurai – Bengaluru Cantonment
– 20677 Dr MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada Previously, reservations closed once the train departed from its origin, leaving many seats unused and inaccessible to passengers at later stops. This update aims to improve seat utilization and provide greater convenience for travelers.

Potential Expansion Based on User Response

The introduction of this last-minute booking feature is expected to enhance passenger experience by making travel more flexible and efficient. Indian Railways plans to monitor user response closely and may expand the service to additional routes if it proves successful.