Indian Railways Advance Reservation Period: The history of Indian Railways, one of the largest railway networks in the world, begins in 1832. It is not only an important part of India’s transportation, but it has also become an integral part of Indian culture and society. Indian Railways has seen many changes over time, one of the significant changes has been in the ticket booking system.
Earlier the process of ticket booking was manual, but after computerization in 1986, this process became much easier. In this article we will know whether tickets were always booked 120 days in advance in Indian Railways and what is the history of reservation.
History of Reservation in Indian Railways
The reservation system of Indian Railways has evolved over time. Earlier, passengers had to stand in long queues to book tickets. Tickets were booked manually, which resulted in wastage of time. Let us know about the different stages of development of this system.
Preliminary Round: Manual Ticket Booking
- Ticket Booking Process: Earlier passengers had to go to the station and stand in a long line at the counter. Railway employees used to book tickets only after seeing the information about vacant seats.
- Ticket Format: Tickets were on small cardboard pieces, which were cut by hand.
beginning of computerization
In 1986, Indian Railways started the process of computerization, which revolutionized ticket booking.
- First Computerized Ticket: For the first time, the process of ticket cutting through computer started at New Delhi Railway Station.
- Development of Reservation System: After this, facilities like I-Ticket and E-Ticket were also started, which provided the facility to the passengers to book tickets sitting at home.
Overview of Indian Railway Reservation System
The table given below gives a brief description of the reservation system of Indian Railways:
| Speciality | Description |
| early years | 1986 |
| initial process | manual ticket booking |
| computerization | Started from New Delhi in 1986 |
| i-ticket | Launched on IRCTC website in 2002 |
| e-ticket | started in 2005 |
| current system | Online Booking and Mobile Apps |
| facilities | Tatkal Planning, Catering Services |
| special trains | Pilgrimage and tourist trains |
Current status of Indian Railways
Today Indian Railways has become a state-of-the-art system. Now passengers can easily book tickets as per their need. Moreover, online platforms like IRCTC have made the process even simpler.
Were tickets always booked 120 days in advance in Indian Railways?
An important aspect in the reservation system of Indian Railways has been that generally passengers could book tickets 120 days in advance to plan their journey. However, this rule did not apply to all trains. This time limit could be reduced in some special trains and Tatkal schemes.
immediate plan
Under the Tatkal scheme, passengers need to travel in less time. The ticket booking process under this scheme is quick:
- Booking Timings: From 11 am for general coaches and from 10 am for air-conditioned coaches.
- Seat Availability: Seats are limited and fill up quickly.
Development of reservation process
Indian Railways has updated its reservation process from time to time.
online booking
Nowadays most travelers plan their journey using online platforms:
- IRCTC website: Here passengers can choose the train and seat as per their choice.
- Mobile Apps: Tickets can also be easily booked through smartphone applications.
E-Ticket vs I-Ticket
Both E-Ticket and I-Ticket facilities are available:
- I-Tickets: These are physical tickets that are sent home by post.
- E-Tickets: These are digital and passengers can print them and travel.
conclusion
Indian Railways has made several important changes in its reservation system. From manual processes to computerization, every step has increased convenience for passengers. Today, passengers have the facility to book tickets easily through online platforms.
It would not be wrong to say that Indian Railways has seen many ups and downs in its history, but today it has become a modern and convenient means of travel.
Disclaimer: This article has been written for informational purposes only. The information given in it is based on reality and efforts have been made to provide correct information to the readers.
