Downloading eTickets from IRCTC is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps. With eTickets, you no longer need to worry about losing paper tickets or dealing with long lines at the train station. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to easily download and manage your train eTickets on IRCTC.
What is an eTicket?
An eTicket, or electronic ticket, is a ticket that exists in digital form only. Instead of receiving a paper ticket when you book train travel on IRCTC, you are issued a digital ticket that contains a unique PNR (passenger name record) number. This eTicket contains all the details of your journey such as train number, date of travel, class, booking status, passenger information, fare details etc.
eTickets provide the following advantages over traditional paper tickets:
- Convenience – eTickets eliminate the need to stand in long queues at the railway station to collect tickets. Passengers can download eTickets online in advance from the comfort of their home.
- Security – There is no fear of losing the ticket or someone else misusing it. Passengers can download the eTicket again if needed.
- Flexibility – Details of the eTicket can be easily changed online on IRCTC website before the scheduled journey.
- Cost-Saving – No need to pay for ticket delivery charges.
- Eco-Friendly – Paperless tickets are environmentally friendly.
Steps to Download eTicket from IRCTC Website
Downloading an eTicket from IRCTC website takes only a few minutes if you follow these simple steps:
- Go to www.irctc.co.in and click on ‘Login’ at the top right corner of the page.
- Enter your IRCTC User ID and Password and click ‘Login’ to access your IRCTC Account.
- Once logged in, click on ‘Booked Ticket History’ under the ‘My Account’ section.
- Here you will see the list of all train tickets booked online through your IRCTC account. Click on ‘Get Ticket’ next to the ticket you wish to download.
- A pop-up will open with the ticket details including PNR number, train number, date of journey, class, booking status etc. Check the details and click on ‘Print E-Ticket’.
- The eTicket will open in PDF format. You can save this PDF file on your computer/smartphone or print it out if required.
That’s it! The steps to download IRCTC eTicket are very simple. The eTicket can be downloaded anytime – right after booking the ticket or a few days before the scheduled journey.
Steps to Download eTicket Using IRCTC Mobile App
IRCTC has made ticket booking and management even more convenient for passengers with its Mobile App. Here are the steps to use this app to download eTickets:
- Install the ‘IRCTC Rail Connect App’ on your Android or iOS smartphone from the respective app store.
- Open the app and tap on ‘Login’. Enter your IRCTC User ID and Password to login.
- Go to the ‘Ticket’ section and tap on ‘Booked History’.
- This will display all the train tickets booked through your IRCTC account. Tap on the ticket PNR to view details.
- Review the ticket details and tap on ‘Show Ticket’ to download the eTicket as a PDF file on your phone.
- The eTicket PDF will be saved in your phone’s storage and can be easily retrieved from the file manager.
Downloading IRCTC eTickets is very quick and easy with the Rail Connect app. You can store the eTickets on your phone for easy access anytime when traveling by train.
Steps to Download eTicket Using IRCTC Ticket Booking SMS Service
IRCTC also offers an SMS service to instantly get eTickets on your phone via text message. Follow these steps:
- Save the SMS number 139 in your phone contacts as ‘IRCTC’.
- To get your ticket, type PNRNUMBER and send SMS to 139. For example: ‘PNR 2515652139’
- You will receive an SMS with the complete eTicket details including PNR, train no., date, time, class, booking status, passenger info, fare etc.
- This SMS containing the eTicket acts as a valid ticket to travel and can be displayed on your phone.
This SMS ticket service lets you retrieve and carry your ticket even if you don’t have smartphone or internet access. However, regular SMS charges will apply based on your mobile plan.
Important Points About Downloading IRCTC eTicket
- PNR number is required to download the eTicket from IRCTC website, app or SMS.
- The name on the eTicket should match the valid Photo ID proof carried by the passenger during journey.
- If the booking status on the eTicket shows as WL/RAC, it means the ticket is Waitlisted or Reservation Against Cancellation. Only tickets with a CNF status should be accepted for travel.
- For return or multi-journey tickets, eTickets for each journey have separate PNRs and need to be downloaded separately.
- Downloaded eTicket PDF or SMS can be shown as proof of ticket during train travel.
- If booking is done through an agent, request them to provide the PNR to download eTicket.
Steps to Download eTickets for Multiple Passengers
If you have booked tickets for a group or family, here is how to download eTickets for multiple passengers in 1 go:
- Login to your IRCTC account and go to Booked Ticket History.
- Search for the ticket using PNR or passenger name.
- Click on ‘Get Group Ticket’ next to the required booking.
- A list of all passengers in the booking will appear. Click on ‘Print E-Ticket’.
- This will download a single PDF containing eTickets for all passengers in the booking under the same PNR.
This way you can retrieve tickets for an entire group instead of downloading individual tickets one by one.
How to Download eTickets During Server Down or Connectivity Issues?
Sometimes passengers are unable to download eTickets from IRCTC website or app due to heavy traffic or server problems. If you encounter such issues, use these alternate options to get your ticket:
- Retrieve ticket later – Try downloading the ticket after some time when the website/app is less congested.
- Use IRCTC Ticket Booking SMS service – Get ticket on your phone via SMS to 139.
- Visit a Railway Station – Use the Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sewak (JTBS) counter at major railway stations to get a hard copy of your ticket by providing the PNR details.
- Call 139 – IRCTC’s customer care number 139 can also be called to get ticket details and status. Share PNR for agent to convey your ticket details.
So even if you are unable to download the eTicket online due to any reason, you can still access it through alternate channels.
Steps to Use Downloaded E-Ticket for Travel
To utilize the downloaded eTicket for your train journey, follow these steps:
- Print the eTicket if you have downloaded the PDF file on your computer system.
- OR save the PDF on your smartphone or take a printout of the booking SMS.
- Carry a valid Photo ID proof during travel as mentioned on the ticket.
- Present the printed/digital copy of eTicket along with your ID proof when asked by the Ticket Examiner.
- The barcode on the eTicket will be scanned to validate your journey.
- Cooperate with the TTE for any random checks conducted during the train ride.
Ensure your ticket status shows CNF/CONFIRMED before traveling. Partially confirmed tickets marked RAC/WL are invalid for travel.
Troubleshooting Guide
Some common issues faced while downloading IRCTC eTicket and their solutions are:
Issue | Solution |
---|---|
Forgotten IRCTC login password | Use ‘Forgot Password’ option on IRCTC website to reset password |
IRCTC account locked | Contact IRCTC customer care to unlock account after verification |
Incorrect PNR number | Retrieve correct PNR from booking SMS/email and try again |
Ticket not appearing in history | Contact IRCTC if ticket booked but not showing. Provide booking reference number |
Ticket shows invalid status | Only CNF/CONFIRMED tickets are valid for travel |
Name mismatch on ticket | Get name corrected by modifying ticket online or visit reservation center |
Ticket not downloading | Use alternate channels like SMS, counter ticket, call center etc |
Conclusion
Downloading IRCTC eTickets requires just a few simple steps which can be completed online or via mobile app in minutes. The key things to remember are:
- Use IRCTC user ID and password to login and access ticket booking history.
- Find the ticket using PNR and click on Get Ticket/Show Ticket option.
- Save the PDF eTicket on your computer/phone or take a printout.
- Validate ticket before travel and carry print/soft copy with valid ID proof.
- Use alternate channels like SMS/counter ticket if unable to download online.
Following this guide will make the process of downloading and using IRCTC eTickets seamless. Digital tickets help save time, money and the environment. So next time you book a train ticket, go paperless and download the convenient eTicket online on IRCTC website or mobile app in a few quick steps.