Indian Railways Introduces Last-Minute Booking on Vande Bharat Trains: All You Need To Know

In a noteworthy boost to passenger convenience, Indian Railways has unveiled a feature allowing travellers to book seats just 15 minutes before the train arrives at intermediate stations. This new service has been introduced only on Vande Bharat trains only for now. The change stems from a revamped Passenger Reservation System (PRS) aimed at real‑time ticketing access and better seat utilisation.

How is it different from the current booking option?

Previously, current booking was only permitted until departure from the train's originating station. Now, passengers boarding midway can access vacant seats and reserve them up to 15 minutes before train departure from their station—subject to availability.

Which routes are included for last minute booking?

As part of its initial testing, this currently applies to eight Vande Bharat Express services run by the Southern Railway zone.

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

How to book Vande Bharat tickets just 15 Minutes before train arrival?

Indian Railways has upgraded its Passenger Reservation System (PRS) to enable real-time ticketing for select Vande Bharat trains. If you plan to board from an intermediate station (not the train’s origin), you can now book your ticket up to 15 minutes before the train reaches your boarding station.

Steps to Book via IRCTC:

• Open the IRCTC website or app.

• Select source and destination stations on one of the eligible Vande Bharat routes.

• Choose the "Current Booking" or “Book Now” option if you're booking within 1 hour of train departure from your boarding station.

• If the train is yet to arrive and seats are available, you’ll be able to confirm your ticket instantly.

• Proceed to payment and get your e-ticket.

• The new PRS system auto-cancels unconfirmed waitlisted tickets shortly before departure, freeing up seats for immediate booking.

This new facility is ideal for last-minute travellers, especially from smaller towns or mid-route stops. It will also help fill unbooked seats during journeys, reducing waste.