Diwali Train Ticket Booking Under Scanner As Passengers Allege Seats Vanish Within Minutes
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
As Diwali travel bookings open, passengers are alleging that confirmed railway seats are disappearing from the system within minutes, raising questions over whether ordinary travellers are being squeezed out by agents and tour operators allegedly using dummy names to block tickets.
Passengers trying to book confirmed railway tickets for travel from Gujarat to North India, Jammu-Katra and southern destinations are facing a frustrating battle. Complaints have reportedly reached authorities in Delhi alleging that agents are using dummy passenger names to block seats, leaving ordinary travellers struggling to secure confirmed berths.
The complaints allege that tickets on several long-distance trains are booked almost immediately after reservations open, while tour operators and agents continue to offer travellers “guaranteed confirmed tickets” as part of Diwali packages.
The allegations have triggered demands for a detailed probe into booking patterns, agent activity and possible misuse of the railway reservation system during the festive rush.
Booking Window Opens At 8 AM, Problems Reportedly Follow
Under the Advance Reservation Period, online booking opens at 8 AM. According to complaints from passengers, seats appear available immediately before the booking window opens but become extremely difficult to secure once the process begins.
The pattern described by complainants is:
- 8:01 AM: Seats reportedly appear available across several trains.
- Around 8:05 AM: Users attempting to book allegedly begin encountering “High Load” and similar error messages.
- Around 8:06 AM: Passengers reportedly face “Unable to Process” notifications while proceeding with bookings.
- After 8:10 AM: Confirmed seats on several trains allegedly disappear, with the system showing “Regret” or waiting-list status.
Complainants have also alleged that the portal or app begins functioning normally after the confirmed seats have been exhausted.
How Are ‘Guaranteed’ Tickets Being Offered?
The complaints have raised questions over how certain tour operators and agents are able to offer confirmed railway tickets when ordinary passengers are unable to obtain them.
The Railways does not provide tour operators with a separate quota or dedicated coaches for such packages. Against this backdrop, complaints allege that some agents may be booking tickets under the names of dummy passengers well in advance and subsequently allocating those tickets to actual travellers.
According to the allegations, during the peak travel period between November 5 and November 25, passengers may be charged substantially higher amounts for such arrangements. They are allegedly informed close to the date of travel that the confirmed ticket is in another person’s name and that they would have to travel using that ticket.
The complaints have further alleged possible involvement of some railway employees. These allegations have not been established and require investigation.
Several Gujarat-Origin Trains Under Scrutiny
The complaints have called for booking data to be examined for long-distance trains originating from Ahmedabad, Sabarmati and Gandhinagar, with allegations that some tickets are being booked through Passenger Reservation System counters in Rajasthan and other states, apart from agent channels.
Among the trains mentioned for scrutiny are:
- Sabarmati–Jammu Tawi
- Hapa–Katra
- Jamnagar–Katra
- Sarvodaya Express
- Jammu Tawi Vivek Express
- Gandhinagar Capital–Daulatpur Chowk
- Ashram Express
- Yoga Express
- Sabarmati–New Delhi Rajdhani
- Sabarmati–Banaras Superfast
The complaints have sought an examination of booking patterns, passenger details and the locations from which reservations were made to determine whether any unusual patterns emerge.
Tatkal Booking Also Raises Questions
Passengers have also complained about difficulties during Tatkal booking slots at 10 AM and 11 AM, depending on the class of travel.
The recurring concern is that genuine passengers are unable to complete bookings because of technical errors or seats becoming unavailable almost immediately after the window opens.
While heavy demand during the Diwali travel season can place considerable pressure on online reservation systems, the complaints have called for the Railways and IRCTC to examine whether the repeated booking failures are solely technical or whether any irregular booking activity is contributing to the problem.
Booking Data Could Reveal The Pattern
A detailed analysis of reservation data could help determine whether the allegations have any basis. Officials could examine the timing of bookings, passenger names, repeated use of particular identities, booking locations, agent IDs and cancellation patterns on high-demand routes.
The complaints have therefore called for closer monitoring by the Railways and IRCTC during the Diwali rush so that genuine passengers are not disadvantaged by any irregular booking practices.
For now, the alleged dummy-name booking network and suspected involvement of railway employees remain allegations and would require verification through an official investigation.
