Are you considering a spontaneous trip? But, struggling to find available train tickets due to long waitlists? If yes, we’ve got great news for you! Indian Railways has revealed that you can now purchase tickets for Vande Bharat trains just 15 minutes before departure. Yes, you read that right! However, this option is limited to certain Vande Bharat trains. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Passengers can now secure tickets for eight Vande Bharat Express trains as little as 15 minutes before their scheduled arrival at the station. This move comes from the Indian Railways’ updated Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which seeks to improve the travel experience and promote hassle-free bookings at en route stations for these trains.
Currently, this convenient feature applies to eight Vande Bharat trains operating within the Southern Railway (SR) zone, covering regions in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
The revamped PRS allows for real-time visibility of available seats, enabling passengers to book tickets up to 15 minutes before the train departs from their boarding location.
Previously, strict regulations prohibited ticket sales once a train had left its starting point, leading to unoccupied seats while travelers at smaller stations lacked options. Now, passengers have greater flexibility and improved prospects for securing a seat.
Routes On Which You Can Book Vande Bharat Tickets 15 Minutes Prior
The applicable routes are listed below:
1. Mangaluru Central to Thiruvananthapuram Central
2. Thiruvananthapuram Central to Mangaluru Central
3. Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil
4. Nagercoil to Chennai Egmore
5. Coimbatore to Bengaluru Cantt.
6. Mangaluru Central to Madgaon
7. Madurai to Bengaluru Cantt.
8. Dr MGR Chennai Central to Vijayawada
Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains To Soon Be A Reality
Travelers can look forward to India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper train soon, with the official launch set for September 2025, as announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during a public event in Gujarat on August 3. This much-anticipated service aims to upgrade passenger comfort and efficiency on lengthy journeys, enhancing the existing Vande Bharat network alongside services like Namo Bharat and Amrit Bharat, as part of the Indian Railways modernization initiative.
