The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website has crashed for several users attempting to book train tickets ahead of the festive rush for Diwali and Chhath Puja.
According to Downdetector, 48 per cent of users reported issues with the IRCTC website, 37 per cent experienced problems with the mobile app, and 14 per cent faced difficulties while booking tickets.
Several users took to social media to share the “downtime message” displayed on the IRCTC website. According to screenshots posted online, the message read: “Booking and cancellation for all site will not be available for the next hour. Inconvenience is deeply regretted. For cancellation or file TDR, please call customer care….”
New IRCTC rules
Earlier, in a major relief for railway passengers, the government announced that starting January 2026, travellers will be able to change the travel dates on their confirmed tickets without paying any cancellation fee. The move aims to replace what many have called an “unfair” IRCTC system with a more passenger-friendly policy.
“This system is unfair and not in the interest of passengers,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was quoted by NDTV as saying. The Union Minister added that the order has been issued to implement the new changes.
However, the Railways Minister clarified that changing the travel date does not guarantee a confirmed ticket, as it will depend on seat availability, NDTV reported. The report also mentioned that if the fare for the new date is higher, passengers will need to pay the difference.
At present, if a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 and 12 hours before departure, 25 per cent of the fare is deducted as a cancellation fee. The deduction increases for cancellations made within 12 to 4 hours of the train’s departure. And if the reservation chart is prepared, the user receives no refund.
