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Indian Railways opens ticket booking for Christmas holidays – Here’s how to book IRCTC e-ticket

Indian Railways ticket booking latest update: Indian Railways has initiated ticket bookings for the Christmas holidays. The train tickets are available through two modes: online and offline.

3 min readUpdated: Oct 25, 2025 07:21 PM IST

The passengers planning to travel during the festive period can now reserve their train tickets in advance to avoid last-minute rush. (Image: Southern Railway)

Indian Railways ticket booking, IRCTC train booking: Indian Railways has initiated ticket bookings for the Christmas holidays. The passengers planning to travel during the festive period can now reserve their train tickets in advance to avoid last-minute rush.

The train tickets are available through two modes: online and offline. For online bookings, passengers can use the IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) website or IRCTC mobile app. For offline train bookings, tickets can be reserved at the nearest railway reservation counters at stations.

Indian Railways ticket booking rules

Last year, the national transporter reduced the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days, excluding the journey date. According to railways, the shorter ARP will provide passengers with greater clarity and convenience in planning their travel.

Also Read | Railways approves second direct Superfast train between Bengaluru and Mumbai – check route, stoppages

However, starting October 1 this year, Indian Railways introduced a new rule: during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservation, tickets can be booked only online via the IRCTC website or mobile app by users authenticated through Aadhaar.

“There shall, however, be no change in the timings of booking of general reserved tickets through computerized PRS counters of Indian Railways at present. There shall also be no change in the timings of the restriction of 10 minutes of the opening of general reservation during which authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways shall not be allowed to book opening day reserved tickets,” Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

Also Read | Train to Kashmir: Indian Railways revises schedule of Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express – check route, stoppages, timings

IRCTC E-ticket booking

To book an e-ticket through the IRCTC website, an user must first create an account on the portal.
Login by entering your User name and Password.
Provide your desired From – To station, Date of Journey and Class of travel.
To find train list, click on “Search” option.
The next page displays the list of trains available for the selected route
To select the train from the train list, click on the type of class available in the selected train
To book e-ticket in the selected train, click on “Book Now” button.

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Passenger Reservation Page will appear; check whether the train name, station names, class and journey date displayed on the page are same as desired by you.
Enter the Name of the Passengers, Age, Gender, Berth Preference etc. details for each passenger.
After providing correct details, click on “Continue” button. To change any details related to Train, Class, Quota etc
The ticket details, Total fare (including GST & Convenience Fee) and availability of berths at the particular time appear on the screen.
After checking all details, click on Continue button for Payment process
Select the desired payment option from the displayed Payment Gateway menus.
After successful payment and booking of accommodations, Ticket Confirmation Page will appear.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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