Transformation at its best! Indian Railways give a digital treat to passengers for better travelling

New Delhi, September 8: Indian Railway has always chalked out ways to improvise the accessibility of its service to the passengers. It has also been working to improve its creaking infrastructure and enhance passenger amenities. To ensure success in this effort, Railways has introduced various IT initiatives as well.

Railways have also been adopting new technologies like modern signaling and ticketing systems to improve train operations and provide better passenger experience to its customers. Here are 4 such IT initiatives:

Tracking trains:

The Indian Railway has fitted many GPS devices in the trains for better navigation. Railways have experimented with tracking of trains using GPS devices with these GPS devices located in the locomotive. For a sustainable solution, a Real Time Train Information System (RTIS) is being implemented, whereby GPS tracking devices would communicate using satellite communications.

 

Apart from this, Railways is also using data logger systems, available in track circuited stations, to capture arrival and departure information of trains. Railways are also using Computerized Train Signal Register for electronically transmitting data.

Modernisation of Ticketing Website (IRCTC):

Railways have completely transformed its e-ticketing website irctc.co.in. IRCTC's next generation website is easy to use and faster than before. The entire user experience has been improved substantially with the launch of a new interface with easier navigation and standard views that enable the passengers to transact smoothly. New features have been added that enable better planning of journeys aiding the passenger to obtain confirmed tickets.

 

Unreserved Ticketing through smartphones:

Railways have witnessed an increase of around 35% in unreserved ticket booking. It had launched paperless unreserved ticketing on mobile phones on 25 December at Mumbai. The facility has been expanded to suburban sections of Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Secunderabad and to the New Delhi-Palwal section of Northern Railway. The ticket is delivered on the Mobile Phone and is embedded with QR Code. About 4 lakh passengers per day are booking tickets on Mobile phones.

 

Handheld Devices on trains:

To enable efficient distribution of vacant berths to waitlisted passengers, Railways is providing TTEs with handheld terminals. Handheld Terminals (HHTs) are being provided to the Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to be able to check the reserved coaches, allow the vacant berths and transmit information on available berths to the subsequent stations. The HHT can also access the ticketing application and collect excess fares as per rules. The terminal can potentially connect to a Point of Sale (POS) machine and charges can be collected digitally.