How to Check Train Seat Availability through SMS: A Comprehensive Guide

Checking train seat availability through SMS is a convenient method heavily used in India. Given the robust system of Indian Railways, this guide provides a step-by-step explanation of how to book tickets, pay for them, and cancel them if necessary. This article aims to simplify the process for users who prefer a hassle-free approach to travel planning.

Prerequisites

In order to book a train ticket through SMS, there are a few prerequisites that must be met:

Registration with IRCTC: Users need to be registered on the official IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) website. MMID and OTP for IMPS: Users must have an MMID (Mobile Money Identification Number) and be registered for IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) with their bank. The same mobile number should be registered with both IRCTC and the bank.

Checking Train Seat Availability

For checking train seat availability, a specific SMS format can be sent to 139, the dedicated telephony service portal of Indian Railways. Here is the format:

SEAT Tr no Dt ddmmyy From Stn STD Code To Stn STD Code Class Quota

Here, Tr no refers to the train number, Dt ddmmyy refers to the date of travel in the format of day-month-year, From Stn STD Code and To Stn STD Code are the standardized codes for the starting and ending stations respectively, and Class Quota specifies the type of coach and the quota (e.g., GN for General, SL for Sleeper, LL for Lower, etc.).

Booking a Ticket

To book a ticket using SMS, send the following SMS to 139:

BOOK TrainNo FromCity ToCity TravelDateDDMM Class Passenger1-Name Age Gender Passenger2-Name Age Gender .... up to 6 passengers

For example, here is a sample SMS:

BOOK 12420 NDLS GZB 2606 2S Rakesh 55 M Sarita 53 F

If the format is correct, a response SMS from 139 will be received with the following details:

Trans Id: 34004567 Ticket Amount: 120 IRCTC SC: 11.24 Total Amount: 131.24 Seat: AVAILABLE-0095. For Payment SMS PAY 34004567 IMPS MMID OTP IRCTCUserID to 139 to book ticket.

Payment

Once the ticket booking is confirmed, the next step is to pay for the ticket. To do this, send the following SMS to 139:

PAY Transaction ID as received IMPS MMID as received from bank OTP as received from bank for this transaction IRCTCUserID

For example:

PAY 340045667 IMPS 98453672 453289 Rakesh

A confirmation SMS will be sent from 139 once the payment is successful:

Your ticket booked successfully. PNR is: 2345678901 Ticket No: 0672261674 Booking Status: Rakesh CONFIRM C1 76 WS Sarita CONFIRM C1 77 Ticket Amt: 120.0 SC: 11.24 Src: New Delhi Dst: Ghaziabad Date of Journey: 26/06/2013 Sch Dep 12:30 hrs

Canceling a Ticket

Cancelling a train ticket is also possible through SMS. Here are the steps for cancelling a ticket completely or partially:

Complete Cancellation

Send the SMS: CAN 10 Digit PNR IRCTC UserID If the entered information is valid, you will receive a confirmation SMS: We have received your request for cancellation of tickets for Passenger 1 Name for PNR Number 2345678901. Please confirm the cancellation by sending YES to 139 or for any change in cancellation data send a fresh request. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you will receive the following SMS: Your ticket for Passenger 1 Name with PNR Number: 2345678901 is cancelled. Amount: 60 will be refunded in your account.

Partial Cancellation

Send the SMS: CAN 10 Digit PNR IRCTCUserID Passenger Number If the entered information is valid, you will receive the same confirmation SMS as for a complete cancellation.

By following these simple steps, Indian railway passengers can enjoy the convenience of booking their tickets and seats through SMS, making travel planning a breeze.