Confusion with e-tickets and i-tickets!

watl1 · Sep 11th, 2007, 16:37

Ok...I have looked through the FAQ on the IRCTC site and looked at the messages on here but still not clear on the difference!

Is an i-ticket the type you get delivered to an address in India, and an e-ticket one you just print out and take with you, quoting your ID no.?

I would have thought e-tickets would be the way to go in this case, but I read somewhere on here that i-tickets are better!

When I do check the e-ticket radio button on the site, I get some message saying "Only confirmed/RAC ticket booked. "Ticket can only be booke up to time of charting". It seems to allow me to continue though, so not sure what's going on there either!

Please help!

Tnx

steven_ber · Sep 11th, 2007, 16:44

The following info has been added to all the 'sticky' threads in the Indian Railways' forum.

Quote:

I-Ticket = book on the net, have it delivered to an address in India, a hotel or travel agent for example, you can no longer pick these tickets up at the station.

E-Ticket = Book on the net, then print the ticket on your home computer.

Advance reservations.

Most tickets can only be booked 60 days in advance, a few tickets can only be booked 30 days in advance. (Some Intercity and daytime, short distance trains)

Opening times for train bookings.

Booking through Internet is allowed from 5 AM to 11.30 PM (IST)
23:30 - 18:00 GMT

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 11th, 2007, 16:48

Even though I am not an expert, but things seem to be pretty clear to me...E-tickets can be bought 4-6 hours before the actual time of departure of the train..because that is the time charts are prepared of the passengers..

However they can only be bought if there are seats available in the train...

So If you see that there are seats available in train and class you want to use you can book the E-ticket, after the booking is done, take the print out. They will ask for a ID proof, you can use your passport and submit its number while booking the ticket. So you can carry the printout and board the train and you need to show the printout and your passport when asked for.

In an I-ticket you can get a booking done even if the seats are not available..you can get it done on waiting list. I guess the booking closes 2 days before the date of travel and they deliver the hard ticket via courier to your doorstep..(not sure if they do that outside India)..

watl1 · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:01

Ok, thanks. I'm getting there I think!

Here is what it is showing after I select e-ticket: (I was just a bit concerned that I would book the ticket, go along to the train station and find that there are no seats!)

Train No Train Name Date Source Station Destination Station Class
4737 JP BIKANER EXP 06- Oct- 2007 JP BKN 1A
Status Report

Serial No Date Status
1 6- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
2 7- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
3 8- Oct- 2007 WL 1/WL 1
4 9- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
5 10- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
6 11- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002

Is that ok to go ahead and book?

Thanks

Louise

steven_ber · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

E-tickets can be bought 4-6 hours before the actual time of departure of the train..because that is the time charts are prepared of the passengers..

However they can only be bought if there are seats available in the train...

2 points to note....

The chart is prepared 4-6 hours before the train departs it's originating station, so, for example....

The Goa Express (train 2780) starts from Nizamuddin (Delhi) daily at 15:00, it gets to Pune the following day at 16:30 and gets to Madgaon (Goa) at 05:40 the next morning.

If you book to travel on the Goa Express from Pune to Goa, you will need to book an E-ticket before 09:00 the day before the train arrives in Pune to be sure of booking before the chart is prepared. (4-6 hours before departure from Nizamuddin)

Also, a train scheduled to depart from it's originating station in the morning (up to 12:00), will have it's chart prepared the night before departure, though I've no idea what time the chart would be prepared, I'd guess is may be no later than 18:00, but that's just a guess.

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:11

It clearly shows that they have 2 tickets available for all days except 8th..where it is waiting list of 1...

You can get an e-ticket as well...for anyday except 8th..

steven_ber · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by watl1

Ok, thanks. I'm getting there I think!

Here is what it is showing after I select e-ticket: (I was just a bit concerned that I would book the ticket, go along to the train station and find that there are no seats!)

Train No Train Name Date Source Station Destination Station Class
4737 JP BIKANER EXP 06- Oct- 2007 JP BKN 1A
Status Report

Serial No Date Status
1 6- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
2 7- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
3 8- Oct- 2007 WL 1/WL 1
4 9- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
5 10- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002
6 11- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002

Is that ok to go ahead and book?

Thanks

Louise

You'll be able to book an e-ticket for all those dates except the 8th October.

They used to have the old First Class (non air con) on that train, sadly, no more.

EDIT - sorry Shashank, we seem to have posted at the same time.

Khak · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by watl1

"Only confirmed/RAC ticket booked. "Ticket can only be booke up to time of charting". It seems to allow me to continue though, so not sure what's going on there either!

Please help!

Tnx

Warning message says:

you can book an e-ticket if

1) the seat that you are getting is confirmed or RAC , you cannot buy WL (waitlisted) tickets with e-ticket option

2) the charts have not been printed - usually 4 hours before trains leaves originating station

Make note of ID proof required for e-ticket

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 11th, 2007, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

You'll be able to book an e-ticket for all those dates except the 8th October.

They used to have the old First Class (non air con) on that train, sadly, no more.

EDIT - sorry Shashank, we seem to have posted at the same time.

Oh..don't worry...I am just enjoying my new found 2 bits of knowledge this weekend..

Manicek · Sep 11th, 2007, 18:44

I have another question. Is it possible to pay E-ticket through internet by international credit card issued by CITIBANK but in Czech Republic or it is necessary to have credit card issued in India?

Thanks for help

steven_ber · Sep 11th, 2007, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manicek

I have another question. Is it possible to pay E-ticket through internet by international credit card issued by CITIBANK but in Czech Republic or it is necessary to have credit card issued in India?

Thanks for help

Most likely, go the the http://www.irctc.co.in/ website and when you try to book, look through the different payment 'gateways' (I think they're called).

Apart from the 'pin code' problem (use an Indian pin/postcode) and web pages timing out (you need to be fast), people rarely have problems with the website.

vsp27759 · Sep 17th, 2007, 17:09

Dear Shashank,

I-Tickets are NOT delivered to the Addresses outside India.

I-Tickets CANNOT BE cancelled on the Internet.

E-Tickets CANNOT BE cancelled across the PRS Counter.
It would be safe & advisable if E-Ticket is cancelled before Charts are finalised, so that you can get back your money into your Bank Account quickly; if not, you have to "wait"!!!

beano · Sep 20th, 2007, 19:06

I'm really confused - what happens when the train shows up as 'available' but STILL won't let you book an e-ticket but suggests you book an i-ticket for a waitlisted reservation?

I'm in the UK, trying to bag an overnight train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad for next Friday (28th). The site shows me a list of trains, the availability seems fine, but when I try to go ahead I get either;

Quote:

Wait Listed ticket reservation is not permitted on your e-ticket .
If you wish to book a waitlisted ticket please replan the same journey for i-ticket

or

Quote:

The "from" Station you have selected does not exist on the route of this train or this station has been deleted

I don't get it. The trains I select all show up as "available" for the date I want to travel ... but how am I supposed to know when a station has been "deleted" or "doesn't exist"? I'm only going by the options they give me ...

Am I better off just turning up at the foreign ticket desk in Mumbai and trying my luck there?

steven_ber · Sep 20th, 2007, 19:15

Train number?

Class?

The first quote sounds like the usual pop-up to tell you that you have to book an I-ticket (ONLY) if your ticket is waitlisted.

beano · Sep 20th, 2007, 19:43

Hiya Steven

I've been looking at these;

241B Ahmedabad Pass
2901 Gujarat Mail
2971 Bhavnagar Express
9005 Saurashtra Mail
9707 Aravali Express

Any class (except 1st) would do me, I'm not picky!

All I wanted was to leave Mumbai on Friday pm and arrive in Ahmedabad the next morning.

Sep 11th, 2007, 16:37	#1
watl1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 34	Confusion with e-tickets and i-tickets! Ok...I have looked through the FAQ on the IRCTC site and looked at the messages on here but still not clear on the difference! Is an i-ticket the type you get delivered to an address in India, and an e-ticket one you just print out and take with you, quoting your ID no.? I would have thought e-tickets would be the way to go in this case, but I read somewhere on here that i-tickets are better! When I do check the e-ticket radio button on the site, I get some message saying "Only confirmed/RAC ticket booked. "Ticket can only be booke up to time of charting". It seems to allow me to continue though, so not sure what's going on there either! Please help! Tnx

Sep 11th, 2007, 16:48	#3
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,100	Even though I am not an expert, but things seem to be pretty clear to me...E-tickets can be bought 4-6 hours before the actual time of departure of the train..because that is the time charts are prepared of the passengers.. However they can only be bought if there are seats available in the train... So If you see that there are seats available in train and class you want to use you can book the E-ticket, after the booking is done, take the print out. They will ask for a ID proof, you can use your passport and submit its number while booking the ticket. So you can carry the printout and board the train and you need to show the printout and your passport when asked for. In an I-ticket you can get a booking done even if the seats are not available..you can get it done on waiting list. I guess the booking closes 2 days before the date of travel and they deliver the hard ticket via courier to your doorstep..(not sure if they do that outside India).. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Sep 11th, 2007, 17:01	#4
watl1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 34	Ok, thanks. I'm getting there I think! Here is what it is showing after I select e-ticket: (I was just a bit concerned that I would book the ticket, go along to the train station and find that there are no seats!) Train No Train Name Date Source Station Destination Station Class 4737 JP BIKANER EXP 06- Oct- 2007 JP BKN 1A Status Report Serial No Date Status 1 6- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 2 7- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 3 8- Oct- 2007 WL 1/WL 1 4 9- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 5 10- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 6 11- Oct- 2007 AVAILABLE- 0002 Is that ok to go ahead and book? Thanks Louise

Sep 11th, 2007, 17:11	#6
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,100	It clearly shows that they have 2 tickets available for all days except 8th..where it is waiting list of 1... You can get an e-ticket as well...for anyday except 8th..

Sep 11th, 2007, 18:44	#10
Manicek Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 34	I have another question. Is it possible to pay E-ticket through internet by international credit card issued by CITIBANK but in Czech Republic or it is necessary to have credit card issued in India? Thanks for help

Sep 17th, 2007, 17:09	#12
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,330	Dear Shashank, I-Tickets are NOT delivered to the Addresses outside India. I-Tickets CANNOT BE cancelled on the Internet. E-Tickets CANNOT BE cancelled across the PRS Counter. It would be safe & advisable if E-Ticket is cancelled before Charts are finalised, so that you can get back your money into your Bank Account quickly; if not, you have to "wait"!!!

Sep 20th, 2007, 19:15	#14
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 8,877	Train number? Class? The first quote sounds like the usual pop-up to tell you that you have to book an I-ticket (ONLY) if your ticket is waitlisted.

Sep 20th, 2007, 19:43	#15
beano Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 17	Hiya Steven I've been looking at these; 241B Ahmedabad Pass 2901 Gujarat Mail 2971 Bhavnagar Express 9005 Saurashtra Mail 9707 Aravali Express Any class (except 1st) would do me, I'm not picky! All I wanted was to leave Mumbai on Friday pm and arrive in Ahmedabad the next morning.

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