IRCTC Update: Indian Railways Now Allows Last-Minute Booking On Vande Bharat Trains

In a significant move to enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways has introduced a new facility allowing last-minute seat bookings on select Vande Bharat Express trains. Passengers can now reserve tickets up to 15 minutes before the train's arrival at intermediate stations-something that was previously not possible under the existing system.

What's New About This Booking System?

Until now, current booking was allowed only up to the departure time from the train's origin station. With the upgraded Passenger Reservation System (PRS), Indian Railways now enables passengers boarding at intermediate stations to book available seats just 15 minutes before the train's scheduled arrival at their station-provided seats are vacant.

Pilot Implementation: 8 Vande Bharat Trains Covered

This feature is currently being piloted across eight Vande Bharat services operated by the Southern Railway zone. The eligible routes include:

20631: Mangaluru Central - Thiruvananthapuram Central

20632: Thiruvananthapuram Central - Mangaluru Central

20627: Chennai Egmore - Nagercoil

20628: Nagercoil - Chennai Egmore

20642: Coimbatore - Bengaluru Cantt.

20646: Mangaluru Central - Madgaon

20671: Madurai - Bengaluru Cantt.

20677: Dr MGR Chennai Central - Vijayawada

How To Book Tickets Just 15 Minutes Before Boarding?
With the PRS upgrade, passengers boarding mid-route can avail themselves of real-time ticket booking if they're within an hour of the train's arrival. Here's how:

Visit the IRCTC website or open the mobile app.

Enter your source and destination stations-must be on one of the listed Vande Bharat routes.

Choose the "Current Booking" or "Book Now" option (available when within 1 hour of train departure from your boarding point).

If seats are available, the system will instantly confirm your ticket.

Proceed to payment and download your e-ticket.

Improved Efficiency in Seat Utilisation
To optimise seat occupancy, the upgraded PRS also auto-cancels waitlisted tickets shortly before departure. This frees up those seats for last-minute bookings by eligible passengers.

Why This Matters
The new facility is especially beneficial for spur-of-the-moment travellers, passengers from smaller towns, and those boarding at non-origin stations. It aims to minimise unoccupied seats, improve revenue, and provide greater flexibility for passengers with unpredictable schedules.

This initiative reflects Indian Railways' broader push towards smarter, tech-enabled, and passenger-friendly services.