Now Book Vande Bharat Train Tickets Just 15 Minutes Before Departure – Southern Railway Launches ‘Current Booking’ System

Vande Bharat Train Ticket: In a big relief for last-minute travelers, Southern Railway has introduced a ‘current booking’ facility that allows passengers to book tickets for Vande Bharat Express trains just 15 minutes before departure from intermediate stations. The move is aimed at increasing occupancy and providing greater convenience to passengers with sudden travel plans.

The initiative currently covers eight Vande Bharat Express trains under Southern Railway and is expected to be rolled out nationwide in the coming months.

How Does the New Booking System Work?

Under the earlier system, once the train departed from its source station, ticket bookings were closed—even from intermediate stations—leading to several vacant seats despite public demand.

With the new current booking system, passengers can now

Book tickets online via the IRCTC portal or offline at station counters

Do s up to 15 minutes before the train arrives at an intermediate station

Book only if seats are available on that segment

Example: If the Vande Bharat train is scheduled to arrive at Tiruchirappalli station at 9:00 AM, passengers can book their ticket until 8:45 AM.

Trains Covered Under the New System

The current booking facility has been implemented on the following eight Vande Bharat trains:

Mangaluru Central – Thiruvananthapuram Central (20631)

Thiruvananthapuram Central – Mangaluru Central (20632)

Chennai Egmore – Nagercoil (20627)

Nagercoil – Chennai Egmore (20628

Coimbatore – Bengaluru Cantt (20642)

Mangaluru Central – Madgaon

Madurai – Bengaluru

Chennai – Vijayawada

 Major Benefits for Passengers

Greater flexibility for travelers with sudden plans

No more empty seats despite high demand

Reduced cancellations and travel disruptions

Time-saving and hassle-free booking experience

This initiative is expected to significantly boost ticket sales and optimize seat utilization on premium Vande Bharat trains. It also aligns with Indian Railways' vision to modernize passenger services and offer seamless, real-time booking solutions.

As more regions demand inclusion in this scheme, railway officials hinted that similar systems may soon be launched across other railway zones, bringing last-minute ticket booking convenience to travelers across India.