Now only 15 minutes on IRCTC…

If you are ever expecting the last minute train ticket, only to tell that it is too late to book, now a better result is waiting. In a step that can plan passengers a short-notice trip, Indian Railways now allows ticket booking for Vande Bharat Express trains 15 minutes before departure, and you do not even need to stand in long queues.

This new facility rolled by the Southern Railway Area, which aims to help secure a seat without frustration of trains vacating the passengers with immediate schemes. Until some time ago, once the Wande Bharat Express train departs from its early station, the reservation system would block all further bookings, even though the seats remained vacant at intermediate stops. That ban has now been lifted, at least on select routes for now.

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This facility is available only on a couple of Vande Bharat Express trains working in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. So far, this final-mining booking facility is active for eight Vande India trains, and can follow more based on passenger response.

Currently, 144 Vande Bharat Express trains operate across India, providing rapid connectivity between major cities. With the latest system updates, passengers riding from intermediate stations can avail the final-minute plan without relying on weightlist or backup transport options.

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How to book online wande India ticket 15 minutes before departure

Follow these steps to book your seat using the updated Indian Railway Reservation System:

• Go to IRCTC website or app: Go to www.irctc.co.in or open the IRCTC Rail Connection Mobile App.
• Log in or sign up: Use your existing IRCTC ID or create a new account.
• Enter the travel details: Select your boarding and destination stations, the date of the journey, and the Vande Bharat Train option.
• Check the real-time seat availability: The system will show if any seat is available.
• Choose your class: Choose between the executive class and the chair car. Select your boarding point.
• Pay: Complete payment online. Your confirmation will be sent via e-ticket SMS, WhatsApp and email.

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These Vande Bharat trains offer this facility

• 20631 Mangaluru Central – Thiruvananthapuram Central
• 20632 Thiruvananthapuram Central – Mangaluru Central
• 20627 Chennai Egmore – Nagarcoil
• 20628 Nagarkoil – Chennai Egmore
• 20642 Coimbatore – Bengaluru Cantt.
• 20646 Mangaluru Central – Madgaon
• 20671 Madurai – Bengaluru Cantt.
• 20677 Dr. MGR Chennai Central – Vijayawada

What does it mean for passengers

With this upgrade, the Indian Railways has introduced more flexibility in its reservation process. Passengers facing final minute changes can now secure easily confirmed tickets. The system also helps maximize seat occupancy, especially between intermediate stops, and align with the broader target of streamlining services through digital infrastructure. We hope that this facility will soon be available on the Delhi-Bihar route.