The government announced that the transition to an advanced passenger reservation system for trains will commence in August. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has instructed officials to ensure a smooth shift to the new system without causing inconvenience to passengers. The current reservation system, in place since 1986, is undergoing a complete overhaul to enhance capacity and introduce modern features to meet the increasing demand.
Indian Railways has been gradually embracing digital transformation since the introduction of internet-based ticketing in 2002. The ministry highlighted that nearly 88 percent of ticket bookings are now done online. The RailOne mobile application, launched last year, has gained significant popularity with over 3.5 crore downloads. It offers various services including ticket booking, cancellations, refunds, and real-time train updates.
The RailOne app features an AI-based prediction system that estimates the likelihood of waitlisted tickets being confirmed. This new feature, introduced earlier this year, has substantially increased accuracy from 53 percent to 94 percent, boosting user confidence. Additionally, the app provides live train tracking, platform and coach details, complaint resolution through Rail Madad, and onboard food ordering with seat delivery.
Currently, the RailOne platform facilitates the booking of around 9.29 lakh tickets daily, covering both reserved and unreserved categories. Emphasizing the significance of railways as a crucial mode of transport for millions, the government highlighted that Indian Railways heavily subsidizes passenger travel. In the fiscal year 2024–25, subsidies totaled Rs 60,239 crore, resulting in an average fare discount of 43 percent for passengers.
