How to Automate IRCTC Ticket Booking: Tools & Methods (Updated July 2025)

IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is India’s official railway ticket booking platform. Due to high demand, especially for Tatkal tickets, many users seek automation solutions. But how does it work? Is it legal? What tools can you use?

Let's explore the best tools and methods for automating IRCTC bookings safely and efficiently, how proxies help avoid IP bans, and legal considerations.

Why Automate IRCTC Ticket Booking?

IRCTC is the official platform for booking train tickets, meal services, and tour packages in India, providing a comprehensive and user-friendly online service. But it often becomes congested, especially during peak hours.

Common Challenges in Booking IRCTC Tickets Manually

High Demand for Tatkal Tickets: Tatkal tickets are limited and sell out within minutes. Users must enter passenger details and complete payment quickly while the pages load slowly.

Slow Loading Times & CAPTCHA Restrictions: IRCTC implements CAPTCHA on login & booking pages to prevent bots and rate limiting to prevent multiple logins from the same IP.

Payment Gateway Delays: Even when you reach the payment page, slow processing can result in timeouts and booking failures.

Benefits of IRCTC Ticket Booking Automation

For Regular Travelers, automation streamlines the booking process and minimizes the risk of manual mistakes like typos or incorrect selections, improving efficiency significantly. Besides, automated scripts can repeatedly attempt to book tickets, improving your chances of success.

Especially for Tatkal tickets, speed and accuracy are crucial. However, automation must be done responsibly.

Legal & Ethical Considerations of Automating IRCTC

IRCTC strictly prohibits automated bookings using bots.

Allowed:

• Using browser autofill tools.
• Booking via authorized travel agents.

Not Allowed:

• Using bots/scripts for ticket booking.
• Bypassing CAPTCHA or session timeouts.

Risk of Account Ban:

Users violating IRCTC policies may get their accounts suspended.

Method 1. Browser Extensions & Autofill Tools (Beginner-Friendly)

Some Chrome extensions like:

• Tatkal Autofill – Pre-fills passenger details instantly.
• Tatkal for Sure – Auto-selects train & redirects to payment page.

They can save passenger details in advance, autofill forms instantly when booking opens, auto-select train and class, redirect quickly to the payment page, and work within IRCTC’s guidelines.

However, they still require OTP entry and manual payment, and cannot bypass CAPTCHA or speed up IRCTC response times.

Method 2. Automating IRCTC Ticket Booking with Python & Selenium (Advanced Users)

Prerequisites

• Environment: Python 3.x, Selenium (pip install selenium)
• WebDriver: ChromeDriver or GeckoDriver matching your browser
• Proxy: IRCTC proxies to avoid IP bans
• New Requirement: Aadhaar number (or VID) linked to your IRCTC profile and SMS‑relay service (or mobile ready for OTP).

1. Set Up Your Environment

bash

# Install Selenium
pip install selenium
# (Optional) Install SMS‑relay SDK
pip install requests

2. Choose a Proxy Service (Avoid IP Bans)

Using a proxy can help you avoid detection and IP bans. Select a reliable proxy provider that offers rotating residential proxies.

GOProxy offers high-speed Indian residential proxies optimized for ticket booking by:

• Rotating IP addresses to prevent IP bans
• Allows multiple sessions without detection
• Reducing server-side tracking to improve the booking success rate

You may also interest: how to use proxies for faster, secure IRCTC ticket booking to avoid IP bans and improve performance!

3. Configure Proxies

python

from goproxy import GoProxy
gp = GoProxy(api_key="YOUR_KEY")
proxy = gp.reserve_proxy(type="residential")
from selenium import webdriver
options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument(f'--proxy-server={proxy.host}:{proxy.port}')
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)

4. Login & Search Workflow

python

# Load IRCTC
driver.get("https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/train-search")
# Login
driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//a[text()='Login']").click()
# enter username/password...
# Search trains
driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, "[formcontrolname='origin']").send_keys("SOURCE")
driver.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, "[formcontrolname='destination']").send_keys("DEST")
# set date and click Search

5. Auto‑Fill Passenger Details

python

# Example passenger data
passengers = [{"name":"Alice","age":"30"}]
for i, p in enumerate(passengers):
    driver.find_element(By.NAME,f"passengerName{i}").send_keys(p["name"])
    driver.find_element(By.NAME,f"passengerAge{i}").send_keys(p["age"])
# proceed to Book
driver.find_element(By.ID,"bookButton").click()

Aadhaar‑OTP Compliance (July 2025 Onward)

As of July 15, 2025, every Tatkal booking requires an Aadhaar‑sent OTP. Integrate OTP handling into your script:

1. One‑Time Aadhaar Linking (By July 1)

• IRCTC → My Profile → Link Aadhaar
• Enter Aadhaar/VID → Send OTP → input received OTP

2. Blackout Window

Pause automation during AC 10:00–10:30 AM and Non‑AC 11:00–11:30 AM IST to comply with agent restrictions.

3. OTP Capture & Submission

python

import time, requests

# Wait briefly after clicking Book
time.sleep(2)
# Fetch OTP from SMS‑relay
start = time.time()
while True:
    r = requests.get("https://api.smsrelay.com/v1/otps",
                     params={"session_id": session_id},
                     headers={"Authorization":"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"})
    if r.status_code==200 and r.json().get("otp"):
        otp = r.json()["otp"]
        break
    if time.time()-start>30:
        raise Exception("OTP timeout")
    time.sleep(1)
# Enter OTP
driver.find_element(By.ID,"otpInput").send_keys(otp)
driver.find_element(By.ID,"submitOtpButton").click()

4. Verification & Cleanup

• Confirm PNR displayed → log success
• On failure (“Verification Required” or timeout) → log and optionally retry

Method 3. API-Based Automation (For Authorized Agents)

IRCTC provides an official API for travel agencies and partners to book tickets programmatically. This is the most reliable and legal way to automate bookings. But it requires official approval, not available for regular users, and comes with usage restrictions & fees.

If you are a business handling bulk bookings, this is the best option!

FAQs About IRCTC Ticket Automation

Q1: Can I automate Tatkal ticket booking?

You can automate form‑filling and OTP submission, but must respect CAPTCHA and new OTP mandates.

Q2: Is using a bot for IRCTC legal?

IRCTC API use is legal (for authorized agents). Unapproved automation risks account bans.

Q3: What is the best alternative to automation?

Use Tatkal autofill extensions for faster booking. Book with faster payment methods (UPI, saved cards).

Q4: How do I handle OTP in scripts?

Use an SMS‑relay service or prompt manual input within your automation flow.

Q5:  Will proxies still work?

Yes—residential proxies with sticky sessions are essential to maintain IP‑Aadhaar consistency.

Final Thoughts

Automating your IRCTC ticket booking can save time and increase your chances of securing tickets, especially during peak times like Tatkal. It remains powerful, but the July 2025 Aadhaar‑OTP mandate introduces new compliance steps. By integrating SMS‑relay OTP capture, blackout‑aware scheduling, and sticky residential proxies, you can preserve speed, reliability, and legality in your IRCTC automation pipelines. 

Struggling with slow IRCTC bookings? Speed up your process with GoProxy’s Best Proxy for IRCTC—avoid IP bans and increase your chances of securing tickets! Sign up for a free trial today!

Next Step: Once you’ve mastered basic automation, upgrade to OTP‑compliant scripts here:
Unlock Fair Tatkal Bookings: Step‑by‑Step Aadhaar‑OTP Compliance »