Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched the beta version of its upgraded online ticket booking website, introducing a faster, cleaner and more user-friendly experience for millions of passengers who book train tickets every day.
The new portal went live at 9 PM on July 15, 2026, fulfilling Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's announcement made during his visit to the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur last month. The beta version has been released to gather user feedback before the final rollout.
One of the biggest changes is the removal of CAPTCHA during login and ticket booking, making the process quicker and less frustrating. The redesigned website also eliminates unnecessary pop-ups, flashing graphics and distracting elements, offering a cleaner interface.
Passengers will now be able to view seat availability across all travel classes—Sleeper, Third AC, Second AC and others—on a single screen, eliminating the need to search separately for each class.
IRCTC has also introduced a 'Faster Checkout' feature that reduces the number of booking steps, helping users complete reservations in less time. Frequent travellers will benefit from the new 'Easier Repeat Booking' option, which securely saves passenger details such as names and ages, removing the need to re-enter information for every booking.
Passengers can access the new beta portal through the official IRCTC e-ticketing website, while users visiting the existing homepage will also find a direct link to try the upgraded platform.
According to IRCTC, the beta launch is aimed at collecting feedback from passengers. Suggestions received from users will be used to further improve the website before its full-scale release, with the goal of enhancing customer satisfaction and streamlining the online ticket booking experience.
