October 26, 2025

It’s that time of the year when everyone wants to travel for Christmas cheer! Indian Railways has fired the starting gun and opened ticket bookings for the Christmas holiday season. This early booking plan is designed to beat the usual last-minute rush and help travelers secure their seats comfortably in advance. Wondering how to book? It’s super simple! Just visit the official IRCTC website, www.irctc.co.in, and log in with your credentials. No account yet? No worries, just register by filling in your details. Then, drop in your source and destination stations, choose your travel date and class, and click on 'Find Trains.' Pick your favorite train and class, click 'Book Now,' enter passenger details, and pay. Your e-ticket will be ready to print in a jiffy! If you love using apps, the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app is your best friend. Download it from the app store, log in, search for trains, select your ride, book, pay, and voilà—the e-ticket appears right in your phone! Here’s a spicy update: from October 1, 2025, Indian Railways will require Aadhaar authentication for booking reserved general tickets within the first 15 minutes when reservations open for any train. This rule applies both on the IRCTC website and app. So, make sure your Aadhaar is linked to your IRCTC account to enjoy faster bookings and stay on the right side of the new policy. Officials encourage you to book your tickets early to enjoy smooth, hassle-free travel during the festive rush. With trains filling up fast during Christmas, this advance booking move will help keep the crowds in check and seats secure. Indian Railways says this effort is to enhance passenger comfort during peak travel times, especially festivals when rail travel demand zooms up. So, don’t wait for the last bell! Hop onto IRCTC and start booking your Christmas train journeys today. Happy travels and joyous holidays ahead!

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Tags: Indian railways, Irctc, Train ticket booking, Christmas travel, Aadhaar authentication, Railway reservations,