Now ticket seekers can book their train tickets using their mobile phones too. A mobile handset installed with the required software and internet facility are the only two requirements needed for booking tickets using mobile phones. Initial registration is needed for the software to work.
The new mobile ticket booking facility is
launched by
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (
IRCTC), a PSU under Railway Ministry.
After booking, the passenger will receive a reservation message with full details of the ticket including PNR, train no, date of journey and class, which would be treated at par with the print-out of the e-ticket which at present is taken out by the passengers and is known as Electronic Reservation Slip (ERS).
Hence, with the virtual message, passengers would not be required to take a print-out of e-ticket to be carried with them. Showing the reservation message of the confirmed ticket on their mobile during travel will be sufficient. Internet is required on mobile phones to book tickets through mobile.
The passenger has to register at the time of first transaction and thereafter book the ticket using his ID and password. The service was introduced on a pilot basis for a few and now the more than a thousand users are availing this facility everyday.
The service charge is similar to e-tickets- Rs 10 for Sleeper class and Rs 20 for other higher class.
