IRCTC Tatkal Booking Fiasco: System Errors Spark Passenger Outrage

Passengers across India faced major hurdles booking train tickets on Tuesday. The IRCTC Tatkal booking system repeatedly failed, showing error messages. Users took to social media to express their extreme frustration with the government-run platform.

This technical trouble comes just weeks after a high-profile claim of reliability. According to Reuters, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently stated the IRCTC website had 99.98% uptime from April to October 2025.

Social Media Flooded With Passenger Complaints

Complaints poured in from users trying to secure last-minute Tatkal tickets. Many reported the system freezing or crashing at critical payment stages. One user called the entire process “mental stress and self harassment.”

Another lamented spending 30 minutes only to book zero tickets. They criticized the system as “waste” despite the extra Tatkal charges. Reports on outage tracking sites spiked, with most problems linked to the website.

The Downdetector service showed dozens of incident reports. Roughly 68% of complaints were about the IRCTC website failing. About 31% of reports pointed to issues with the mobile application.

Broader Context of Railway Service Challenges

This outage occurred alongside another significant announcement. Indian Railways confirmed a fare increase effective December 26. Fares will rise by one to two paise per kilometer across most classes.

Officials stated the hike aims to improve financial sustainability. It is the second fare rationalization this fiscal year. The move is expected to generate significant additional revenue.

The timing of these two events—service failure and price increase—has amplified passenger discontent. It highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing technological reliability with service costs.

The repeated IRCTC Tatkal booking errors have severely disrupted travel plans for countless passengers. This incident underscores the persistent gap between promised digital efficiency and on-ground reality for India’s vast railway network.

Info at your fingertips

Is the IRCTC website currently down?

While not a total outage, significant technical glitches were widely reported. Users experienced persistent error messages and failed transactions specifically during peak Tatkal booking hours.

What should I do if I get an error while booking?

You can try the IRCTC mobile app as an alternative. If both digital platforms fail, visiting a physical Railway Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter is the recommended official backup.

Did the Railways Minister address this issue?

As of now, there is no new statement from the minister regarding this specific outage. He recently highlighted the platform’s 99.98% uptime for a prior seven-month period.

Are train fares increasing again?

Yes. Indian Railways announced a fare hike effective December 26. The increase is between one and two paise per kilometer for most travel classes.

Why is Aadhaar verification needed for Tatkal?

Indian Railways mandated Aadhaar verification to control malpractices and ticket hoarding. The policy aims to ensure genuine passengers have a better chance at securing last-minute tickets.