Indian Railways is preparing to replace its 40-year-old reservation system with a modern Passenger Reservation System (PRS). This new system will be rolled out starting August 2026 to make ticket booking faster and more reliable. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the project at Rail Bhawan to ensure a smooth transition for passengers.
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How will booking on running trains work?
Passengers will be able to book confirmed berths even after the train has started its journey. The Ticket Travelling Examiners (TTEs) will use upgraded Hand Held Terminals (HHT) to receive instant updates. When a passenger books a vacant seat online, the TTE’s device will get an immediate message for online allocation.
What are the new features of the upgraded system?
The new system uses modern technology to handle high transaction volumes and reduce server lags during Tatkal bookings. It also introduces an AI-based waitlist prediction tool to help passengers plan better. The accuracy of this prediction has increased from 53% to 94%.
Key highlights of the digital upgrade
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Implementation Date | Starting August 2026 |
| Old System Age | Used since 1986 (40 years) |
| Digital Shift | 88% of bookings are now online |
| RailOne App | 3.5 crore downloads, 9.29 lakh daily bookings |
| TTE Device | Upgraded HHT for real-time updates |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will the new reservation system start?
The upgraded Passenger Reservation System (PRS) will be gradually implemented starting from August 2026.
How does the AI waitlist prediction help passengers?
The AI tool predicts the probability of a waitlisted ticket getting confirmed with 94% accuracy, helping passengers plan their travel.