IRCTC Railway Enquiry Guide for All Your Train Enquiry Needs
Trains are the primary mode of transportation for passengers and freight in India. Indian Railways plays an important role in businesses, tourism, hospitality, and the country’s defense.
Often passengers have many types of queries related to trains and the status of their tickets. These train enquiries include PNR status, live train running status, arrival and departure time of trains, ticket fare, seat availability, cancelled and rescheduled trains and many more to mention. Indian Railways offers train enquiry services to help you get answers to your queries.
Currently, IRCTC provides train enquiry services through the following three modes:
- Indian Railway Voice Enquiry
- Indian Railway SMS Enquiry
- Train Enquiry through Indian Railway’s Online Resources
Most of you probably have used one or more of these railway enquiries services to get the requisite information about trains. Apart from train enquiries, you can also use them to complain about a service such as low food quality, theft of goods, delay in freight delivery etc.
Read on to get the overview of each enquiry services offered by the Indian Railways in detail.
Indian Railway Voice Enquiry
Indian Railways provide a toll-free number 139 for all train-related enquiries. You can dial 139 from your mobile or a landline phone and get answers to your queries. 139 is an all-India Railway Enquiry number. You can make PNR status enquiry, train arrival and departure enquiry, seat availability etc., and get the answer for your queries through interactive voice response, IVR system. However, if you have some broad enquiry that the AI-based system cannot answer, a customer care executive will assist you in such a situation.
How Do You Call 139 to Get help from Indian Railway?
Dial 139 from your mobile. An IVR will respond and ask you to select your preferred language. Then follow the steps below:
Press 1 for Security Helpline, Medical Assistance
Press 2 for Enquiry
Press 4 for General Complaint
Press 5 for Bribery and Corruption Complaint
Press 6 for Parcel or Goods Enquiry or Complaint
Press 7 for Assistance Related to Trains Operated by IRCTC
Press 9 for Status of Your Complaint
Press * if you want to Speak to a Customer Service Representative of Indian Railways.
For making the train-related enquiries, you must press 2 and then choose the option as follows:
- To check PNR status: Press 1 followed by your 10-digit PNR number
- To get information about arrival, departure, cancellation and diverted trains: Press 2 and follow the instruction
- To know seat availability in a train: Press 3 and follow the instruction
- For fare enquiry: Press 4 and follow the instruction
- To book tickets using a credit and debit card: Press 5 and follow the instruction
- To cancel reserved train tickets: Press 6 and follow the instruction
- To set up a wake-up call or destination alert: Press 7 and follow the instruction
- To book a wheelchair at any station: Press 8 and follow instruction
- To order food on the train: Press 9 and follow the instruction
Also Read: How to Use NTES to Know Live Running Status of Train?
Indian Railway SMS Enquiry
Train enquiry through SMS is easy. Passengers can send SMS in special formats as specified by the Indian Railways and get information about the PNR status of their ticket, train running status, seat availability, and train schedule. Following are the formats for different types of railway enquiries:
PNR Status Check by SMS
Format: PNR <10-digit PNR number>
Example: PNR 0123456789
Arrival and Departure of Train by SMS
Format: AD <Train Number> <Station’s STD Code>
Example: AD 12310 0612
Seat Availability Enquiry by SMS for General Quota
Format: SEAT<Train Number> <Journey Date in the DDMMYY format> <STD Code – Source Station> <STD Code – Destination Station> <Class of Travel*> <Quota**>
Example: SEAT 12309 150721 0612 011 2A G
Seat Availability Enquiry by SMS for Tatkal Quota
Format: TSEAT <Train Number> <Journey Date in DDMMYY> <STD Code – Source Station> <STD Code – Destination Station> <Class of Travel*>
Example: TSEAT 02393 210621 011 0612 3A
Live Train Running Status Enquiry by SMS
Format: LOCATE <Train Number> or SPOT<Train Number>
Example: SPOT 12310 or Locate 12310
Train Time Table Enquiry by SMS
Format: TIME <Train Number>
Example: TIME 02393
Train Schedule Enquiry by SMS
Format: SCHEDULE <Train Number>
Example: SCHEDULE 02393
Train Route Enquiry by SMS
Format: ROUTE <Train Number>
Example: ROUTE 02393
Train Fare Enquiry by SMS
Format: FARE <Train Number> <Journey Date in the DDMMYY format> <STD Code – Source Station> <STD Code – Destination Station> <Class of Travel*> <Quota**>
Example: FARE 12310 150621 011 0612 1A G
Format for Setting Destination Alert by SMS
ALERT <10 Digit PNR Number>
Example: ALERT 0123456789
Train Name or Train Number Enquiry by SMS
Format: TN<Train Number> or TN <Train Name>
Example: TN Rajdhani Express or TN 12310
Next Train Enquiry by SMS
Format: NEXT <STD Code – Source Station> <STD Code – Destination Station>
Example: NEXT 0612 011
* Class of Travel – First AC – 1A, Second AC – 2A, Third AC – 3A, Sleeper Class – SL, Chair Car – CC, Second Seater – 2S
** General Quota – G, Tatkal Quota – TQ, Premium Tatkal Quota – PT, Ladies Quota – LD
Train Enquiry through Indian Railway’s Online Resources
Besides IVR and SMS, passengers use the internet frequently for most of the Indian Railway’s enquiries.
IRCTC Website – online ticket booking and enquiries like PNR status, seat availability, train live running status, train schedule, timetable etc.
NTES – Live train running status enquiry, live station, enquiry about cancelled, diverted and rescheduled trains, estimated arrival time, and departure of trains.
Passenger Reservation Enquiry (indianrail.gov.in) – PNR enquiry, Reserved train between stations, Seat availability, fare enquiry, reserved train schedule.
Also Read: List of Garibrath Trains: Routes, Fare, Timetable
Important Email ID, Websites and Contact Number
IRCTC Ticket Booking Customer Support Number: 0755-6610661, 0755-4090600
I-tickets/e-tickets: care@irctc.co.in
For Cancellation e-tickets: etickets@irctc.co.in
IRCTC Tourism Enquiry Details
Email – tourism@irctc.com
Toll-free number – 1800110139
Contact Number – 0755-6698100/ 4090400
Website – https://www.irctctourism.com/
Maharaja Express Train Enquiry
Email – maharajas@irctc.com
Contact Number – +91-9717635915
Website – https://www.the-maharajas.com/
Buddhist Train Enquiry
Email – buddhisttrain@irctc.com
Contact Number – +91 8287930157
Website – https://www.irctcbuddhisttrain.com/index
RailMadad: For Inquiry, Assistance & Grievance Redressal
Website – RailMadad
Contact Number – 139
Also Read: Rail Madad: All In One Railway Helpline Number ‘139’
What Is the Railway Enquiry Number of Indian Railways?
139 is the single number for all Indian Railway’s enquiry. This number is the IRCTC RailMadad helpline number for quick grievance redressal and train enquiries. Indian Railways launched 139 as an integrated helpline number for all types of queries, assistance, and complaints during the journey. It has helped both the Railways and train passengers to overcome the inconveniences of multiple train enquiry numbers.
Which Is the Best App for the Indian Railway Enquiry?
IRCTC Rail Connect and NTES are the two most useful Indian Railway enquiry apps. With IRCTC Rail connect, you can enquire about seat availability in a train, book a reservation ticket, check PNR status and PNR confirmation chances. Also, you can use the NTES app to know live train running status, live station, arrival and departure of trains on a station, and status of the trains carrying freight and goods.
In addition to the official Indian Railway apps, there are a few reliable apps like RailMitra, which train passengers can use for making a host of train enquiries. This train enquiry app is very precise and offers additional features such as ordering food in train from FSSAI approved restaurant and the latest news about the Indian Railways.
How can I get PNR status by SMS?
To get PNR status by SMS, type a message in the following format: PNR followed by the 10-digit PNR number of your ticket and send it to 139.
For example: Suppose your PNR number is XYZ, then type PNR XYZ and send it to 139. Shortly, you will receive an SMS with all the details about the status of the ticket.
Is 139 a toll-free number?
1800-111-139 is a toll-free number available 24 ×7 for all train-related enquiries and help. However, if you dial or make an enquiry through SMS on 139 from a mobile, carrier charges may apply. Consult with your mobile service provider for exact information on applicable charges, if any.
At RailMitra, we are helping you with all the train-related enquiry and services of the Indian Railways. We believe this guide will help you in making all types of railway enquiry throughout the country easily.
Additionally, you can use RailMitra for enquiring about live train running status, seat availability, checking PNR status, train schedule, and trains between stations. That’s All for now. Stay Safe, Bon Voyage!