Indian Railways has officially announced that ticket bookings for travel on October 21, 2026, will commence on August 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM Indian Standard Time. This update, shared via the IndianRail Facebook page, aims to help passengers prepare for high-demand travel periods, including the upcoming Navratri and Dussehra festivals.
Under the standard Advance Reservation Period rule, general bookings typically open 60 days in advance, excluding the date of travel. To facilitate a smooth booking process, IRCTC advises passengers to log in to the portal by 7:45 AM IST, 15 minutes prior to the official opening time. Notably, since October 1, 2025, the first 15 minutes of online general reservation bookings are reserved exclusively for Aadhaar-verified users, making account verification essential.
Essential Tips for Festive Season Bookings
To secure confirmed tickets during this high-traffic period, passengers are encouraged to utilize the Master List feature to pre-save passenger details and to have preferred payment methods, such as UPI, debit/credit cards, or net banking, ready for immediate use. Passengers are also advised to check availability for alternative trains or stations if necessary. With October being a peak travel month due to festive demand ahead of Diwali, officials have urged travelers to be ready exactly at 8:00 AM on August 22 to avoid booking delays.