The Indian Railways has rolled out major updates to its ticket booking system for 2025, focusing on passenger convenience, transparency, and fair seat allocation. Whether you travel frequently or occasionally, these changes will directly affect how you book and travel by train this year.

🛏️ 1. Lower Berths Now Reserved for Priority Passengers

In a major relief for senior citizens and women, lower berths in sleeper and AC classes will now be automatically reserved for:

· Senior citizens (men aged 60+, women aged 58+)

· pregnant women

· Divyang (differently-abled) passengers

This ensures those with physical needs or mobility challenges get priority access to lower berths during booking.

⏰ 2. Advance Reservation Period (ARP) Extended

Passengers can now book tickets up to 150 days in advance — an increase from the earlier 120-day window.
This helps long-distance travelers and families plan trips well ahead, especially during festivals and holidays when trains fill up quickly.

👨‍👩‍👧 3. Family Berth Allocation Gets Smarter

To avoid situations where families or groups get scattered across coaches, indian Railways has enhanced its seat-allocation algorithm.
Now, passengers booking together (under one PNR) will be seated closer to each other whenever possible.

💳 4. Refund and Cancellation Rules Simplified

The refund process has been made more transparent and faster. Key highlights:

· Instant refunds for UPI and wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">digital payment users.

· Simplified cancellation slabs for partial ticket cancellations.

· Clear refund timelines displayed at the time of booking.

🌐 5. Tatkal Bookings to Get a wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">digital Boost

The Tatkal system will now use AI-based monitoring to curb misuse by agents and bots.

· OTP verification is mandatory for each user login.

· Dynamic seat allocation ensures fair distribution during high demand.

This makes last-minute ticket booking fairer and faster for genuine passengers.

🧾 6. Real-Time Waitlist Updates

Passengers will now receive real-time SMS alerts for waitlist and RAC updates.
The irctc app and website will also display live seat availability, allowing passengers to modify or upgrade their bookings instantly.

🚉 7. Focus on Accessibility and Inclusivity

Indian Railways has expanded its Divyang-friendly features, including:

· Wheelchair booking at the time of ticket reservation.

· Visual and audio assistance during e-ticket booking.

· Priority counters and coach entry for eligible passengers.

🧭 Final Takeaway: A Passenger-First Approach

These new rules show that indian Railways is evolving for the wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">digital age, ensuring smoother, safer, and more convenient journeys for millions of passengers.

🚄 Pro Tip: Before your next trip, review the new rules on IRCTC’s official website to make the most of the updated system!

 

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