Vande Bharat Train: In a move to make train travel more flexible and passenger-friendly, Indian Railways has introduced a new facility for Vande Bharat Express travelers. Passengers can now book confirmed tickets up to 15 minutes before departure, ensuring last-minute planners do not miss out and vacant seats are better utilized.
The initiative has been rolled out on selected Vande Bharat Express routes under the Southern Railway zone, covering Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Eligible Vande Bharat Trains
Currently, this facility is available on eight trains:
- 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
Passengers boarding from en route stations on these trains can also make use of this last-minute booking feature.
How to Book Last-Minute Vande Bharat Tickets Online
Indian Railways has upgraded its Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to allow real-time seat booking right before the train departs. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
- Visit IRCTC website or app – Log on to www.irctc.co.in or use the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
- Log in or sign up – Access your account or create a new one.
- Enter travel details – Select your boarding and destination stations, travel date, and choose the Vande Bharat train.
- Check seat availability – View real-time vacant seats.
- Choose class and boarding point – Pick Executive Class or Chair Car.
- Make payment and confirm – Pay online and receive your e-ticket instantly via SMS and email.
This facility is expected to boost convenience, reduce wastage of seats, and benefit passengers with urgent travel plans.
