Technical Fault Disrupts Motihari PRS Ticketing System

A technical malfunction in the Passenger Reservation System at Motihari on September 5 2026 disrupted ticket booking services and caused extremely slow performance just before the Chhath and Diwali festivals. Railway officials acknowledged the issue which is affecting bookings across the region. Passengers struggled to secure confirmed tickets during this peak festive season. The disruption coincides with the ongoing transition to the Next Generation PRS replacing the 40-year-old legacy system since August 2026. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw previously directed officials to prevent commuter inconvenience during this upgrade.

Festival Booking Advisories and Infrastructure Challenges

IRCTC has advised travelers to verify all booking details carefully to avoid fraudulent agents. Passengers should also note that Aadhaar-linked accounts receive a 15-minute priority booking window for AC and non-AC tickets as per the policy effective since October 1 2025. Meanwhile rail operations faced additional strain on September 4 2026 due to interlocking work on the Gorakhpur-Unaula section causing major delays for services like the Champaran Satyagraha Express and the Avadh Express.