Foreigners, NRIs to book train tickets from abroad

Foreigners and NRIs will soon be allowed to book train tickets online for domestic travel in India from abroad using their credit or debit cards issued by respective foreign banks as the IRCTC is making necessary changes in its system to enable international transactions. Currently, foreigners and NRIs book their tickets through tour operators or relatives here.

Our aim is to facilitate foreigners and NRIs hassle-free ticket booking facility and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been instructed to do the needful, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Buddhist circuit trains, luxury services like ‘Palace on Wheel’, ‘Maharaja’ and other tourist specials are popular with foreigners and tickets are booked generally through tour operators.

Besides the luxury trains, foreigners will be able to book tickets for regular service once the required system gets operational on the IRCTC ticketing site.

He said there were some glitches which are being addressed by the IRCTC and we are expecting the foreigners will be able to book tickets directly by the month-end.