IRCTC Rail Connect

IRCTC Rail Connect is the official mobile app of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. You can search trains, check seat availability, book tickets and see your PNR status.

Before you book

• Create your account only through the official app or website.
• Keep your passenger details saved to save time during busy booking windows.
• Check the final fare and cancellation rules on the payment screen.

Beware of lookalikes

Fake "ticket booking" apps and websites exist. Learn how to verify a listing in our article on spotting fake apps on Google Play. The official app is published under the IRCTC name and the link below goes to the real listing.

Rules, charges and timings for railway tickets change from time to time, so always rely on the information shown inside the app at the time of booking.

Our verdict

IRCTC Rail Connect is the official route to booking trains, so the main risk is not the app but lookalikes. Before booking, have your passenger details saved and check the fare and cancellation rules on the payment screen. If a payment fails, check the booking history and your bank statement before trying again, so that you do not pay twice.

Booking on IRCTC Rail Connect without mistakes

• Save the passenger details before booking time arrives, so you spend the first minutes checking the train, date and class rather than typing.
• Check the boarding station, date and class on the final screen. Mistakes there are expensive to fix.
• Never share your IRCTC password or OTP with an agent or a caller who says your booking needs verification.
• If payment is deducted but no ticket appears, check booking history first and then use the official help section before paying again.

Short answers

Is IRCTC the only safe place to book? It is the official source. Other platforms exist, but use only well-known services and never pay agents who contact you first.

What if money was deducted but no ticket was booked? Check your booking history first. Refund rules and timelines are set by IRCTC, so see the help section in the official app.

In practice: A traveller saves the family's passenger details a day before booking opens. When the booking window starts, the form is filled in seconds and attention goes to checking the fare, date and train number instead of typing names.

Read next

To check an app is genuine, read how to spot fake apps. For payments, see BHIM and our mobile banking checklist.