New ticket confirmation process in Railways

A tool has been developed to predict the probability of waitlisted ticket getting confirmed at the time of booking as well as during Passenger Name Record (PNR) enquiry of waitlisted ticket. The tool has been developed using the algorithm of Machine learning.

The machine learning model has been developed using the waitlisted PNR data of past 2 years. This model creates the pattern for the various waitlist scenarios and predicts the probability for the future date journey. Currently this feature is integrated with Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website only. In IRCTC website this feature is operational w.e.f. 13 June, 2018 as under:-

When the user is doing the booking transaction, and if the status of accommodation availability of the inputted journey is waitlisted, then the user can check the probability of confirmation. At the time of PNR enquiry of waitlisted ticket, the user can check the probability of confirmation. As far as trends of confirmation chances and cancellation chances probability is concerned, it is informed that it varies depending upon peak and lean periods, type of trains like short distance trains, long journey trains, trains with limited stoppage, etc.

In the computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS), confirmed berths/seats are allotted on first come first served basis till the availability and thereafter Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC)/Waiting List tickets are issued. The status of RAC/Waiting List tickets get automatically updated against the cancellation of confirmed berths/seats and also against release of unutilised reservation quotas.

To facilitate those passengers who have to undertake journey at short notice and to save such passengers from the clutches of unscrupulous elements/touts, Tatkal scheme of reservation is available where the accommodation becomes available for booking on the previous day of journey from train originating station. Further, with a view to providing confirmed accommodation to waiting list passengers and to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, a scheme known as Alternate Train Accommodation (ATAS) known as “VIKALP” was introduced as a pilot project in November, 2015. This scheme has been expanded to cover all type of train on all sectors from 01.04.2017. For this facility, waiting list passenger has to give an option at the time of booking of ticket & passengers with waiting list status at the time of preparation of first reservation charts are shifted to other trains, subject to availability of vacant accommodation.

In the computerized PRS there is already a provision to permit cancer patients and their attendants travelling on concessional tickets issued in exchange of concession certificate, to directly access Emergency Quota at the time of booking itself. Maximum number of berths/seats out of the Emergency Quota in a train, which can be accessed by Cancer patients and their attendants in Sleeper, is 4 and 2 each in AC Chair Car, AC 3 tier, AC 2 tier and First Classes. In addition, separate Cancer Patient Quota has also been defined in some identified trains. Moreover, instructions are also there that in case requests are received for confirmation of berths out of emergency quota from patients who have to undertake journey for checkup like cancer treatment and dangerous ailments which cannot be postponed due to compelling circumstances, the same should be considered by quota controlling authority as per extant norms so as to accommodate to the extent feasible after satisfying themselves of the genuineness of travel.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

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Booking to Tatkal Tickets & Measures to Avoid Misuse of Tatkal Scheme

On Indian Railways, reserved accommodation including Tatkal accommodation can be booked through computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) on first come first served basis. During peak rush periods/days when demand outstrips the availability, reserved accommodation especially in higher classes and on popular routes gets exhausted within short duration of opening of reservation. However, during lean periods, on non-popular and lower classes, the accommodation remains available for longer duration. The phenomenon is more relevant for Tatkal where limited accommodation is earmarked. This happens as the available limited accommodation is accessed simultaneously through more than 10,300 counters at 3465 computerised Passenger Reservation Centers as well as through internet.

To avoid misuse of Tatkal Scheme, there are some inbuilt features in Tatkal scheme which includes provision of not granting refund on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets except in case of certain special circumstances indicated in the scheme, not allowing any modification of Tatkal ticket, etc. Some additional steps have also been taken to facilitate the passengers and to avoid the misuse, some of which are:-

• Staggering of the timings of reservation under Tatkal scheme.
• Captcha implementation in Registration, Login and Booking page to check fraudulent booking through automation software.
• Imposition of minimum time limit before proceeding for payment gateway as well as after making payment while booking tickets through internet.
• Making OTP(one time password) compulsory for all net Banking Payment options.
• Disabling authorised agents to book Tatkal tickets during first half an hour of opening of reservation.

To keep a check on the activities of touts, preventive as well as regular checks are conducted jointly/individually by Vigilance, Security and Commercial Departments, and the action against the culprits is taken as per provisions of Section 143 of Railways Act, 1989.

This information was made available in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Source: PIB

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“Attempts are being made to simplify the extremely popular Tatkal reservation system.”

Tatkal booking is a blessing in disguise for train travelers who urgently need tickets, but the process of booking tickets on this system could be a constant source of irritation. Though plenty of reasons are attributed to it, the main grouse is the slow server connectivity and the IRCTC website’s inability to handle multiple user load.

Addressing this issue, Sandeep Dutta, the Chief Public Relation Officer of IRCTC, which is a sister concern of the Indian Railways, said, “All over the country, more than ten lakh tickets are reserved everyday, of which about 50% is booked through IRCTC.

“On the Tatkal system, between 10 AM and 12 PM, nearly 1.5 lakh tickets are booked everyday on the IRCTC website. In the beginning the website server was able to book only 7000 tickets per minute. Now, it has been raised to 14,000 e-tickets per minute.

“When users all over the country try to reserve tickets on Tatkal at the same time, the website crashes due to the overload. This has constantly been a huge challenge for IRCTC. Despite the fact that IRCTC has given a number of facilities, its reputation suffers due to this.

To tackle this problem, IRCTC decided to purchase five new world-class Singapore-based servers. These servers will be added to the main IRCTC server in another ten days. User capacity will increase from 14,000 to 24,000 per minute maximum. There will not be any website crash after that.

So, Tatkal reservation is going to become much more user-friendly.

Source: www.cgstaffnews.in

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Revision of Tatkal Timings – Passengers are happy with the steps taken by the Railways?

There is now a reduction in the jamming of the IRCTC website that occurred because AC and Second Class passengers were trying, at the same time, to book tatkal tickets online. It has therefore now become easier for passengers to book second class tickets on the internet.

Nearly 15000 tickets are being booked through IRCTC website at tatkal hours. The huge traffic will be diverted into two segments such as AC and Non AC.

Timings for the Railway Tatkal ticket booking have been changed from 15th June 2015. Previously the booking under Tatkal Scheme opens at 10.00 hrs on the previous day of journey from train originating station for all classes. According to the new schedule, booking for the AC coaches will open at 10 AM and ticket bookings for the other non AC classes are open at 11 AM.

And one more important decision taken by the Railway Board is completely debarred from booking tickets during the first thirty minutes of opening of booking for all authorized IRCTC Agents.

Generally the total number of seats of a train are divided into various quotas. Such as General Quota, Tatkal Quota, Ladies Quota and Pooled Quota. These quotas will differ for different trains.

30% of the total available Berths on a train are allocated for Tatkal Quota, and 10% are set aside for sitting tickets. Approximately 2 seats will be allocated in each coach for Ladies Quota. And nearly 8% of seats reserved for Pooled Quota. In AC Coaches, 16 tickets for each 3-tier AC coach and 10 tickets of 2-tier AC coaches are also being allocated for the online tatkal booking.

Accommodation reserved not only for Ladies, also Sr. Citizen and Pregnant Women. Accommodation of six berths in sleeper class of all the trains is earmarked for exclusive use of lady passengers. In addition to this a combined quota of 2 lower berths is earmarked in sleeper class, AC 3-Tier and AC 2-Tier classes for Sr. Citizens, Female passengers 45 years of age and above traveling alone and pregnant women in all trains. Pregnant women will be required to submit a certificate of pregnancy certified by one registered Medical Practitioner at the time of booking against the quota.

So totally 40% tickets are being set aside for quota reservations. With more than 80% of the population preferring to travel in second class, it becomes a moral duty of the Government to give due importance to it.

Click to read more at cgstaffnews.in

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“Changes will be brought in to the popular train ticket reservation system, which will put to shame the detractors who are insisting that it be privatized like BSNL”

It is not a simple task to travel 500 KM in just Rs.150.00! Autorickshaws charge Rs.25 per kilometer, and the fare is double during night times. The state governments can arbitrarily raise the bus fares as and when they feel. They give hundreds of reasons to justify these hikes. But, the concern they show for railway fares is surprising and baffling, to say the least.

The general public doesn’t mind paying more if they have to travel on short notice. But, these detractors feel that there has to be a guideline of sorts on how much more can be charged from them. The fact that the Centre has taken cognizance of these opinions is obvious from the reforms that are being brought to these systems.

The Tatkal Reservation facility’s timings have been changed. The decision has also been made to refund 50% of the ticket costs on cancellation.

Tatkal is a blessing for those who have to go on sudden journeys. That’s why there is a heavy demand for these tickets. Meanwhile, the Indian Railways announced that it is planning to run special Tatkal trains to ease the demand. The charges could be Rs.175 to Rs.400 more than the fares of normal trains.

Click to continue reading…

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Railway passengers soon will be able to book your rail ticket four months in advance instead of two months at present.

In his Railway budget speech in Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said advance reservation period has been extended from 60 days at present to 120 days to check the rising menace of touts.

Asked when the decision will be implemented, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha told reporters later that it would come into force in the next fortnight. Incidentally, the advance reservation period earlier was 120 days but was reduced to 60 days about two years back, a step the railways had then said was initiated to also check the tout menace.

Member Traffic Ajay Shukla said advancing the reservation period once again to 120 days would discourage the touts as it involves more cancellation charges.

Mr. Prabhu announced introduction of ‘operation five minutes’ scheme under which ticketless passengers can get regular tickets within five minutes of entering station.

Provision of modified ‘hot buttons’, coin vending machines and ‘single destination teller windows’ will drastically reduce the transaction time, the Minister said.

For the differently-abled travellers, a special initiative is also being launched whereby they can purchase concessional e-tickets after one-time registration. It is also proposed to work towards developing a multilingual e-ticketing portal.

“We will move towards crediting all refunds through the banking system,” the Minister said.

Read more at “The Hindu”

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. 2014/TG-V/4/04

New Delhi, dated 17.12.2014
Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

 (COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR NO. 53 OF 2014)

Sub: Announcement regarding mobile number of TTE/Conductor in the trains.

Recently during the course of annual review meeting held with Central Vigilance Commission, it was inter-aha suggested that the name and mobile number of TTES/Conductors should be displayed on every compartment of the trains so that public can contact them in case of any need.

2. In this connection, attention is drawn to instructions issued vide this office letter no. 2012/TG-I/20/Pt. 1 dated 13:08.2012 (CC 110. 48 of 2012) wherein Zonal Railways were advised to print the name of the TTEs/Conductors manning the coaches on end-to-end basis on the reservation chart through the PRS. It was also informed that for all other trains, the names of the ticket checking staff deployed on the 1st leg should be printed on the chart at the train originating station. Compliance of these instructions may be ensured.

3. The suggestion of CVC as mentioned above was examined keeping in view the ground realities and it was not found practically feasible to implement the same. It is however, desired that in trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi & Duronto Express trains where the provision of announcement is there, the name of the Conductor/TIES manning the coaches earmarked to them and the coach in. which they are available should be announced during the run of the trains after every Commercial halt so that the passengers in need can contact them for assistance.

Necessary instructions may be issued to all concerned.

sd/-
(Vikram Singh)
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board

 Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in

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