Indian Railways New SMS Based Ticket Booking System Across Operators

India’s Rail passengers can now book their tickets through SMS, Railway Ministry launched the SMS-based ticketing system. The SMS system is likely to come handy and easy to use for people who do not have access to Internet or smartphones as tickets can be booked from non-Internet-enabled phones too.

Presently Railway’s SMS based ticket booking system launched with two dedicated numbers — 139 and 5676714 as a pilot project by Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), will also help railways overcome the menace of touts who fleece unsuspecting passengers.
The key features of SMS Based Rail ticket booking on mobile phone:
· Ticket can be booked within minutes;
· basic mobile phones are sufficient; no internet connection is required;
· The user will get ticket details on SMS instantly.
· SMS along with valid ID in original can be used for travel, no printout is required.
HOW TO USE IRCTC SMS BASED TICKET BOOKING:

Book your ticket through USSD (as of now for Airtel users) :
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) based booking for Airtel subscribers*
Registration
• Register for Airtel money by dialing *400#.
• Load cash on this or recharge from any Airtel money outlet.
Booking Flow
• Dial *400# and select book tickets option.
• Select Reservation.
• Enter your IRCTC User ID.
• Enter the details of ticket (station, train no. date of journey, class etc.).
• Enter mPIN for authorizing payment.
• Booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC and same can be used during journey along with valid ID proof.
• Fare & IRCTC service charges are debited from your Airtel money account.
• Charges: No PG Charges.
• Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable
Helpline No.: 121
Helpline Email : 121@airtelmoney.in
Book your ticket through SMS:

1. SMS based booking through 139*
Registration
• Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with your bank.
• Bank provides MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) & OTP (one time password) for authorization of payment. (More than 25 banks are providing this facility.
Booking Flow
• Send SMS, in the following syntax, to 139
BOOK <M/F>
• You will receive Transaction ID alongwith other details.
• Make payment through sending an SMS, in the following syntax, to 139
PAY <OTP, your one time password received for this transaction> and your ticket is booked.
• Service is available to all mobile subscribers.
• SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).
• PG charges Rs 5/- for ticket amount Rs 5000/- (as applicable by bank).
• Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable
Helpline No.: 139

2. SMS based booking through 5676714*
Registration
• Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with m-wallet
• Send SMS, to 5676717, in the following syntax START for user authentication (first time only)
Booking Flow
• Send an SMS to 5676714 to book a ticket in the following syntax:
BOOK,, , ,,
,,<M/F>
• You will receive the Transaction number.
• Send the 2nd SMS, for payment, in the following syntax.
1. “PAY , MPAY, ” for authorizing payment through MPAY
or
2. “PAY ,,, ,” for authorizing payment through IMPS.
• After payment is made booking confirmation is sent to your mobile.
• Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).
Helpline No. : 8882001001
Helpline Email : support@saarthii.com

3. SMS based Railway ticket booking through BSNL*
User should have the following:
1. BSNL SIM card installed.
2. Java enabled mobile phone.
3. Andhra Bank Prepaid card.
This is a menu driven application where user has to enter the details asked for in simple step-by-step process to get the ticket.
Registration
• Install the BSNL Prepaid Card Application.
• Select the Register option to get the mPIN.
Booking
• Click the icon BSNL Prepaid Card
• Select Ticketing > Train (IRCTC)
• Fill up the journey details such as From stn, To Stn, Train No, DOJ, Class, Quota, passenger details.
• Enter the mPIN to get the ticket information.
• Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes without charges.