IRCTC’s New Features in 2025 You Probably Didn’t Notice

Indian Railways is one of the most essential lifelines of the country, and IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) plays a crucial role in making train travel more accessible and convenient. While most passengers know about booking tickets online or ordering meals through IRCTC, 2025 has brought a wave of new features that many users are yet to notice or explore.

In this article, we’ll uncover some of the most useful and interesting updates IRCTC has rolled out in 2025, many of which are already live but flying under the radar. Whether you’re a daily commuter or a long-distance traveler, these features are worth knowing.

1. Unified Travel Dashboard

In early 2025, IRCTC launched a Unified Travel Dashboard, allowing users to manage all their train travel needs in one place. This dashboard includes:

• Active and past bookings
• Onboard services like food and bedrolls
• Tourist packages
• Hotel and flight bookings
• Loyalty rewards

The main objective is to provide users with a central hub where all their travel-related activities through IRCTC are visible at a glance, reducing the hassle of switching between tabs or services.

2. AI-Powered Dynamic Fare Alerts

If you’ve been tired of missing out on cheaper tickets, IRCTC now provides AI-powered dynamic fare alerts. This smart feature notifies you when the fare drops for your selected train and class.

You can:

• Set alerts for multiple routes
• Receive SMS/email notifications
• Track fare trends over a 7-day window

It works similarly to airfare tracking on travel portals and helps budget-conscious travelers save money.

3. Train Seat Auto-Upgrade Option

Many passengers don’t realize that IRCTC now offers an optional seat upgrade feature at the time of booking. If selected, the system automatically upgrades your seat to a better class (if available) at no extra cost, depending on availability closer to the travel date.

This is particularly helpful for:

• Waitlisted passengers
• Passengers who booked in sleeper class but may get upgraded to AC
• People traveling during off-peak seasons

This feature is available only to users who opt in during the booking process.

4. QR Code-Based Platform Navigation

Navigating busy railway stations can be overwhelming. In 2025, IRCTC collaborated with Indian Railways to implement QR code-based navigation systems at major stations.

Here’s how it works:

• Scan QR codes placed around the station
• Access a live map of the station layout
• Get directions to platforms, food stalls, restrooms, cloak rooms, and exit gates

This system has already been implemented in New Delhi, Mumbai Central, Chennai Central, and is expanding to tier-2 cities.

5. Smart Coach Integration with Live Coach Feedback

Select premium trains now include Smart Coaches equipped with sensors and real-time monitoring. Through the IRCTC app, passengers can now view:

• Real-time cleanliness ratings of their coach
• Feedback from other travelers
• Report issues with cleanliness or technical faults directly through the app

The goal is to crowdsource feedback for instant issue resolution and improve passenger comfort.

6. Eco-Friendly Travel Score

With increasing environmental awareness, IRCTC introduced an Eco-Friendly Travel Score for every ticket booked. This metric tells you:

• How much carbon you saved by choosing the train over a flight
• Your eco score for the year
• Ways to offset your travel footprint by donating to green initiatives

It may not affect your travel, but it creates awareness and motivates travelers to choose sustainable options.

7. Real-Time Food Delivery from Local Restaurants

IRCTC’s e-catering system has been around for a while, but in 2025, it got a major upgrade. Now, passengers can order hot meals from local restaurants at designated stations with better tracking, reviews, and hygienic ratings.

New features include:

• Live tracking of food delivery
• Menu previews with photos
• Ratings and reviews for vendors
• Scheduled delivery at your seat number

This change makes train food more personalized and competitive.

8. Premium Lounge Booking via App

Waiting at stations is no longer a pain. IRCTC has expanded its Premium Lounges, now available for booking through the IRCTC app or website. You can pre-book access to lounges that offer:

• AC waiting rooms
• Charging points
• Complimentary snacks and beverages
• Wi-Fi and clean restrooms

These lounges are available in over 50 railway stations now, and more are coming soon.

9. Digital Identity and One-Click KYC

For frequent travelers, IRCTC now offers a Digital Identity Profile linked to your Aadhaar or PAN. Once verified, you can:

• Skip OTP verification during bookings
• Get faster refunds
• Access loyalty benefits

This makes the entire booking and cancellation process smoother and faster.

10. Auto Refund for Waitlisted Tickets (UPI Integration)

In case you didn’t notice, IRCTC now supports auto-refunds for waitlisted e-tickets via UPI. Earlier, refunds used to take 3-7 days. Now, if your ticket is not confirmed:

• The amount is instantly refunded within hours
• A notification is sent through SMS and email
• Refund goes directly to the UPI ID used during booking

This has significantly improved trust and satisfaction among regular users.

11. Family and Group Travel Bundles

A new feature in 2025 is the Group Travel Bundle, where families or groups of 6 or more passengers can:

• Get priority allocation of seats together
• Receive discounts on meals and accommodation
• Access group check-in at select stations

This has made IRCTC a strong option for planning affordable family vacations or pilgrimage tours.

12. Integration with DigiLocker and Health ID

Another quiet yet powerful feature added in 2025 is the integration with DigiLocker and ABHA (Health ID). You can now:

• Store your ticket and ID digitally
• Share your health ID with onboard paramedics in case of emergencies
• View health-related travel advisories for different states

This is especially useful for senior citizens or those with chronic health conditions.

Final Thoughts

IRCTC has come a long way from just being a railway booking portal. In 2025, it’s evolving into a complete digital travel ecosystem. With smarter tools, real-time data, and a focus on user experience, Indian Railways is becoming more efficient and passenger-friendly than ever before.

While many of these features are already live, they’re often underused simply because users don’t know about them. Now that you do, your next train journey might be smarter, smoother, and even more enjoyable.