Indian railway , most commonly mode of transport. I remember during my college days, earlier when we had to get the ticket done, we use to go the reservation counter . We use to go early at 8:00 to avoid big line. I head that their was time when computer was not their people use to get ticket done manually by entering in a register . Life has certainly become easier with computerization especially with online reservation using IRCTC. Now IRCTC does booking for around 850 trains from rajdhani, turanto, garib raht to normal express train. Its only does not only booking but also catering . The quality of service of catering has few questions.
But I am surprise by the manner in which IRCTC , it’s a mammoth network working on real time system . Does all the transaction of booking ticket without any major issues. I have never heard two person getting allotted the same birth, name not in train, etc . If the transaction fails after the payment gateway. It refund your 100% money with in three days without any interest, else gets done by contacting customer care which I feel are effecting via email/phone. We can get our ticket done from café or home or travel agent or anyplace having internet connections . It has made simple as any one travelling member has to carry ID card for e-ticket which not even friendly TTE don’t asks you most of the time. It has tie up with major of the online banking from private to public bank . Some pvt & pub bank even don’t charge it extra money for taking their service. Now a days Mobile alerts with PNR when new ticket done comes to you mobile. You can also status status of booked ticket online via IRCTC which ae helpful in WL ticket .
You can check the seat availability via IRCTC during peak summer or indian festival suring dipawali , etc days. It has option also to get ticket cancelled online and the amount gets updated into your transaction bank account with in three working days most of the time. Else follow up with customer care. You have option to go for both i-ticket and e-ticket . The i- ticket gets delivered on time at least in major city with 3 working days (NCR) which is the normal hard copy one. I can take printout any time by going into Booked History / Print E-ticket. One can plan whole itinerary for 90 days advance which keeps on changing thanks to travel agents. One has option to get ticket done late at night till approx 11 PM after office hours. Probability of failure is less during non-official hours i.e after 8 to 8. One saves on transport too, if one has to drive to reservation counter by paying 25 rupees extra
Its one of few PSU which pays dividend to Govt. of India. Sometime there is network issues , slowness, etc . I am never successful try to get tatkal ticket via IRCTC during peak season like depawali, holi, etc. I think they should improve on the same.
In case of cancellation of train, we can file TDR which gets process in specific time period. How to file, it is well documented online. Few Suggestion, which I want to add here. Ticket on Mobile. Why waste paper ? If TTE is happy with print out of the ticket, he will be happy with an SMS containing details of the ticket. I know, it would have limitations but that will save hundred of TREES :) . Just a thought, hope Rail. Min. do sometime.
Note: The information above are based person experience of IRCTC only may not be same for everybody.