IRCTC launches beta version of new ticket booking website with faster bookings and redesigned interface

Indian Railways launches redesigned IRCTC website (Pic/Screengrab@irctc)

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on Wednesday, July 15, rolled out the beta version of its revamped ticket booking website. The introduction of a new website allows users to experience its redesigned interface and share feedback before the full-fledged rollout.

The beta version went live at 9 pm on July 15 and can be accessed through the existing IRCTC e-ticketing portal. A dedicated link to the new version has also been placed on the homepage of the current website.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the redesigned IRCTC website features a cleaner user interface and a simplified booking experience aimed at making train ticket reservations quicker and more user-friendly.

The redesign was inspired by suggestions made by students of Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) during an interaction with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The students were involved in the design process and provided feedback on improving the website's look, feel and overall usability.

The IRCTC website, first launched in 2002, currently handles an average of 14.5 lakh ticket bookings every day, and while there have been several reports of customer-facing inconvenience during the ticket booking procedures, the new version of the website promises to provide customers a better and smoother process.

Key improvements in the beta version

While launching the new website, IRCTC has made several changes to enhance the user experience. Some of the major enhancements in the beta version are:

• Simplified captcha system: Reduced unnecessary captchas, pop-ups, flashing graphics and distracting elements.
• Improved seat availability display: Seat availability is now visible across all travel classes.
• Faster checkout process: The number of booking steps has been reduced to speed up ticket reservations.
• Saved passenger details: Users can save passenger information, making repeat bookings easier and quicker.

While issuing an official statement, the Ministry of Railways said, "The beta version has been released to gather user feedback, which will be incorporated into future updates before the final version is rolled out."

New IRCTC website integrated with PRE

The upgraded IRCTC website will also be integrated with the new Passenger Reservation Engine (PRE), which is currently being revamped alongside the portal. The government said the fully functional version of the new IRCTC platform is expected to be available in the coming weeks.

The official statement from the Railway Ministry also added, "In parallel, IRCTC is revamping the decades-old Passenger Reservation Engine that powers various train booking apps. This required extensive work because the system had to remain operational throughout the upgradation process. The new Passenger Reservation Engine will be launched very soon.

The Ministry of Railways has appealed to users to explore the beta version and submit their suggestions to help further improve the platform before its full-scale launch.