Indian Railways has launched a new ticket booking option that allows passengers to reserve seats on Vande Bharat Express trains up to 15 minutes before departure from their preferred boarding locations. This initiative is particularly beneficial for those who need to make last-minute travel arrangements. The new last-minute booking feature is currently available on select routes within the Southern Railway zone, serving major destinations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The service may expand further depending on user feedback and demand.
The Southern Railway (SR) zone has introduced this new functionality that enables passengers to book tickets for the Vande Bharat Express trains shortly before they depart. This enhancement was made possible by recent updates to the Indian Railways’ Passenger Reservation System (PRS). At present, this real-time booking option is available for eight designated trains. Previously, ticket reservations would close once the train departed from its origin, leaving many seats unoccupied and restricting access for passengers boarding at subsequent stops.
How to Book Vande Bharat Train Tickets 15 Minutes Before Departure
To secure a ticket shortly before a train’s departure, follow these steps:
- Visit the IRCTC website or access the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app.
- Login using your IRCTC credentials or create a new account.
- Enter your travel details, including the boarding station, destination, and date of travel. Make sure to select Vande Bharat Express from the list.
- Check live seat availability.
- Choose your preferred class—either Executive or Chair Car—and confirm your boarding point.
- Complete the payment process online.
- You will receive your ticket via SMS, email, and WhatsApp.
The PRS updates apply to the following 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, the inability to book tickets on Vande Bharat trains after their departure from the starting station often resulted in empty seats being left unused. This limitation prevented passengers at later stops from reserving available seats and hindered travelers from smaller towns from boarding these trains.
This recent update aims to enhance convenience for travelers and optimize seat utilization. Indian Railways plans to consider a broader implementation of this service based on user response to the expanded ticket booking capabilities available in selected areas.
