Train coaches and special trains can now be booked online through IRCTC

Booking train coaches has just got easier as the Indian Railways will now allow passengers to book the same online through the single window booking system of the Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC).

Read more: IRCTC announces new rules for ticket cancellation and bookings

The same system will enable travellers to not only book the train coaches online, but also special trains and saloons, all of them on full tariff rate (FTR).

The general rule for booking special trains and railway coaches till now was that the customer had to submit a written request to the chief booking officer or the station master of the source station, with all the requisite details regarding the journey for FTR booking.

What the Indian Railways has done now is that they have removed this hassle for the passengers, who will no longer need to produce a written request for the bookings to be done.
"Henceforth, any individual or party seeking to book trains/coaches on FTR shall approach the IRCTC and the IRCTC will book trains/coaches online on behalf of the individual or party", read the February circular by Indian Railways.
Although convenient, but the passengers who would now make online bookings on FTR via IRCTC, will have to pay a service charge amounting to 30 percent of the total fare.