Booking trains through IRCTC - Help needed

Lazy Perfectionist · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:17

I am trying to book a train on the IRCTC website and get right through to making the payment but can not seem to get it to approved. It even goes through to the bank password details but declines. I have tried 2 x Visa Debit card and Credit Card card but none of them will work. Can anyone recomend which banking option will work ? I have no issues with money in the accounts and the cards have been activated to be used in India. Please help

Sama · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:26

you need to go through this thread first because you will find all your questions answered: Booking rail tickets from abroad- a Beginner's Guide

don't be so lazy....

machadinha · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:40

There have been some new and recent developments in the field though; see here, also for some possible solutions: Anyone else having problems paying for tickets with the IRCTC for the last few days?

Lazy Perfectionist · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:42

All 56 pages ? not a chance. I all seriousness The first how to guide was posted some years ago so thought things may have changed. It might be because I am not trying in indian business hours I will try again tomorrow morning and pray that it works as it's driving me mad. Thank you for your reply.

machadinha · Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sama

you need to go through this thread first because you will find all your questions answered: Booking rail tickets from abroad- a Beginner's Guide

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazy Perfectionist

All 56 pages ? not a chance. I all seriousness The first how to guide was posted some years ago so thought things may have changed.

You are correct; but maybe read through its last couple of pages, and see if there's anything in there that may help you.

Business hours could come into play; your bank may have to be notified of foreign transactions for them to allow it, but from your above message I take it you've already done that.

Sama · Nov 3rd, 2009, 02:01

I should have said (like mach said) to read the latest posts on that thread....but I assumed someone would automatically do that instead of reading posts that are 5 years old. that's why the thread is a sticky.

gargsam · Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:04

I've made several bookings (as well as cancellations, btw) over the last month using my HDFC debit card. Absolutely no issues with money flowing in or out of the HDFC account.

Indian Railways bookings can also be made via the MakeMyTrip portal and they appear to support a wide variety of credit cards. Ticket prices are the same as on the IRCTC site

Hal · Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:18

Use the Axis gateway, and make sure that your credit card company doesn't automatically block transactions on the web from India. Mastercard seems to do this more than VISA. You have to call them to let them know you'll be making transactions in India. Remember this for when you travel, too.

srikanth131 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 11:07

There would sometimes be issues with international cards. my suggestions

1. Try using a different payment gateway. (Citibank and ICICI recommended)

2. Use third party site's (http://www.cleartrip.com/trains)

Lazy Perfectionist · Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:07

Thank you everyone. I have finally succeded through cleartrip. Although I am waitlisted / RAC. Does anyone know when this is likely to confirm or had I best get a back up plan

Thanks again everyone

ribhu95 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:36

There is a thread dedicated on waitlist / RAC queries. May be you should try there.

And you need to provide train #, date of travel, class of travel and wl #, source and destination for anybody to make a meaningful prediction.

ribhu

chinchu50 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:46

nowadays all portals ask u to verify ur card thru a six digit pin..check that out.

Lazy Perfectionist · Nov 3rd, 2009, 23:14

Thank you ribhua5, I will digest that sticky. The train is the 6334 Veraval Express from Trivandrum to Madgaon on 30th Nov and the current status of my booking as far as I can work out is PQWL 7 through to PQWL9 (3 tickets). If you can add any advice or thoughts I would greatfully receive it.

machadinha · Nov 4th, 2009, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by ribhu95

There is a thread dedicated on waitlist / RAC queries. May be you should try there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazy Perfectionist

I will digest that sticky. The train is the 6334 Veraval Express ...

The thread/article to tell you how it all works is here: RAC and Waitlists explained.

The thread to post your waitlist queries to would then be here: Post your waitlist Will It Get Confirmed queries here ONLY.

pdza · Nov 8th, 2009, 11:24

Is the only way to make reservations on the indian rail from the U.S. by providing a local address in India? If so, what are most people using? A hotel address? Is this all trustworth to pay in advance and have tickets delivered to a hotel?

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:17	#1
Lazy Perfectionist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newport pagnell Posts: 5	Booking trains through IRCTC - Help needed I am trying to book a train on the IRCTC website and get right through to making the payment but can not seem to get it to approved. It even goes through to the bank password details but declines. I have tried 2 x Visa Debit card and Credit Card card but none of them will work. Can anyone recomend which banking option will work ? I have no issues with money in the accounts and the cards have been activated to be used in India. Please help

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:26	#2
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,432	you need to go through this thread first because you will find all your questions answered: Booking rail tickets from abroad- a Beginner's Guide don't be so lazy.... __________________ *MY INDIA, 2005-2008* "Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:40	#3
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,396	There have been some new and recent developments in the field though; see here, also for some possible solutions: Anyone else having problems paying for tickets with the IRCTC for the last few days? __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Nov 3rd, 2009, 01:42	#4
Lazy Perfectionist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newport pagnell Posts: 5	All 56 pages ? not a chance. I all seriousness The first how to guide was posted some years ago so thought things may have changed. It might be because I am not trying in indian business hours I will try again tomorrow morning and pray that it works as it's driving me mad. Thank you for your reply.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 02:01	#6
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,432	I should have said (like mach said) to read the latest posts on that thread....but I assumed someone would automatically do that instead of reading posts that are 5 years old. that's why the thread is a sticky.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:04	#7
gargsam Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 6	I've made several bookings (as well as cancellations, btw) over the last month using my HDFC debit card. Absolutely no issues with money flowing in or out of the HDFC account. Indian Railways bookings can also be made via the MakeMyTrip portal and they appear to support a wide variety of credit cards. Ticket prices are the same as on the IRCTC site

Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:18	#8
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	Use the Axis gateway, and make sure that your credit card company doesn't automatically block transactions on the web from India. Mastercard seems to do this more than VISA. You have to call them to let them know you'll be making transactions in India. Remember this for when you travel, too.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 11:07	#9
srikanth131 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: bangalore Posts: 75	There would sometimes be issues with international cards. my suggestions 1. Try using a different payment gateway. (Citibank and ICICI recommended) 2. Use third party site's (http://www.cleartrip.com/trains)

Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:07	#10
Lazy Perfectionist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newport pagnell Posts: 5	Thank you everyone. I have finally succeded through cleartrip. Although I am waitlisted / RAC. Does anyone know when this is likely to confirm or had I best get a back up plan Thanks again everyone

Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:36	#11
ribhu95 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 265	There is a thread dedicated on waitlist / RAC queries. May be you should try there. And you need to provide train #, date of travel, class of travel and wl #, source and destination for anybody to make a meaningful prediction. ribhu

Nov 3rd, 2009, 22:46	#12
chinchu50 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: chennai,india Posts: 8	nowadays all portals ask u to verify ur card thru a six digit pin..check that out.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 23:14	#13
Lazy Perfectionist Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Newport pagnell Posts: 5	Thank you ribhua5, I will digest that sticky. The train is the 6334 Veraval Express from Trivandrum to Madgaon on 30th Nov and the current status of my booking as far as I can work out is PQWL 7 through to PQWL9 (3 tickets). If you can add any advice or thoughts I would greatfully receive it.

Nov 8th, 2009, 11:24	#15
pdza Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: United States Posts: 3	Is the only way to make reservations on the indian rail from the U.S. by providing a local address in India? If so, what are most people using? A hotel address? Is this all trustworth to pay in advance and have tickets delivered to a hotel?