IRCTC customer care number: an expert, up-to-date guide for 2025

Whether you are booking an e-ticket, following up on a refund, ordering food on the train, or seeking help during a journey, using the correct IRCTC and Indian Railways helplines saves time and prevents misdirection. Below is a practical, current guide to the official numbers, what each one does best, hours, typical response expectations, and safe escalation paths.

All numbers and links provided here are in active use as of 2025. Store the ones you use most, and keep your PNR, train number, journey date, and registered mobile/email handy before calling.

Quick reference: official IRCTC and Indian Railways helplines

Use these numbers depending on your need—e-ticketing, timetable queries, food orders, tourism packages, or onboard security. If dialing from outside India, prefix +91 to Indian numbers (for example, +91 755 661 0661).

• 139 — Indian Railways Enquiry and Helpline (24×7). PNR status, train running information, fare/class availability, and connection to a live agent for general assistance. Also supports SMS: send “PNR 10-digit-PNR” to 139 at standard SMS rates.
• +91-755-6610661 and +91-755-4090600 — IRCTC e-ticketing customer care (24×7). For login issues, booking failures, payment/PG errors, refunds, TDR, and account-related queries. STD code 0755 is Bhopal, where the call center operates.
• 1323 — IRCTC eCatering order and complaints. Place/track meal orders via IRCTC’s Food-on-Track service; operates during meal service hours on most routes (typically 07:00–22:00 IST, depending on station vendors).
• 1800-110-139 — Toll-free IRCTC Tourism and IRCTC Air assistance. For tour packages, rail tour coaches, Bharat Gaurav tourist trains, and flight bookings via IRCTC Air.
• 182 — Railway Protection Force (RPF) Security Helpline (24×7). Use onboard for safety, harassment, theft, or medical emergencies. Share coach/berth, PNR/train number, and nearest station.

Calls to 139 and the 0755 numbers are charged at normal plan/STD rates; 1800-110-139 is toll-free within India. If a line is congested (common during morning Tatkal hours), try again after a few minutes or use the digital alternatives below.

What each number is for—and when to use it

For live train information (running status, platform updates), PNR status, seat availability, and general queries, 139 is the quickest first stop. Its IVR gives you fast, automated answers and an option to speak to an agent. Many basic issues resolve faster here than by navigating web pages on a slow connection.

For problems tied to your IRCTC login, profile, booking failure, funds debited but ticket not issued, refunds pending, or TDR disputes, call the IRCTC e-ticketing helplines: +91-755-6610661 or +91-755-4090600. These are specialized agents who can look up IRCTC Transaction IDs, payment gateway references, and account logs. For food orders or complaints about meals booked through IRCTC eCatering, call 1323. For curated tour packages or any IRCTC Air (flight) booking supported by IRCTC, use the toll-free 1800-110-139.

Use 182 strictly for onboard safety/security. It connects you to the RPF; they coordinate with the nearest station and train staff. For medical assistance, theft, harassment, or vulnerable passengers, 182 provides the fastest official response while you are on the move.

Hours, downtime, and best times to call

139 and the IRCTC e-ticketing helplines operate 24×7. Keep in mind that online booking on IRCTC undergoes a daily maintenance window around 23:45–00:20 IST, during which new bookings are paused; you can still call to ask questions, but certain actions (like fresh booking attempts) will only work after the window. Call volumes spike around morning quotas—especially 08:00–12:00 IST on weekdays—so wait times are shorter mid-afternoon (approximately 14:30–17:30) and late evening (after 21:00), excluding holidays and peak seasons.

Calls to 139 and 0755 numbers are charged at your plan’s local/STD rates; 1800-110-139 is toll-free within India. From abroad, call charges depend on your provider’s international rates to India. If your call drops, agents can’t call back on international numbers, so consider using email or the online portals as backups.

eCatering (1323) aligns with partner kitchen hours, generally 07:00–22:00 IST. For breakfast orders, placing a request at least 1–2 hours before the chosen station improves fulfillment odds, particularly on high-demand routes.

Navigating the IVR quickly on 139 and IRCTC helplines

On 139, you will first pick a language (commonly 1 for Hindi, 2 for English, other regions vary). Typical options include PNR status, live train running, seat availability and fare, and a path to speak with an agent. If your goal is to talk to a person, listen for “speak to customer care” or “other services” after the first two menus; the exact key changes occasionally, but it is usually offered after automated options.

On the 0755 IRCTC e-ticketing lines, be ready with: your registered mobile/email, IRCTC User ID, 10-digit PNR (if booked), IRCTC Transaction ID (shown in your booking history), payment mode (UPI ID, card last four digits, netbanking bank name), and the date/time of attempt. Ask the agent for a docket/complaint number before you hang up; it helps in follow-ups via email or RailMadad.

Digital alternatives: official links and email channels

For quick self-service, use these official portals: IRCTC e-ticketing at https://www.irctc.co.in, RailMadad for grievances at https://railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in, IRCTC eCatering at https://ecatering.irctc.co.in or the Food-on-Track app, IRCTC Tourism at https://www.irctctourism.com, and IRCTC Air at https://air.irctc.co.in. IRCTC’s Ask DISHA chatbot on the IRCTC site can answer many routine questions instantly.

Email support is available at [email protected] (general e-ticketing), [email protected] (failed booking/refund/payment gateway issues), and [email protected] (food orders/complaints). Typical response time is 24–72 hours on working days. When writing, include your IRCTC User ID, PNR/Transaction ID, journey date, and concise screenshots (hide full card numbers; never share OTPs).

For issues encountered during the journey (coach cleanliness, catering quality on pantry cars, electrical/AC faults, water availability), RailMadad is the preferred channel. Register with your mobile, select your train/PNR, describe the issue, and you’ll receive a ticket number with live status and zonal railway assignment.

Refunds, TDR, and how to escalate

For e-tickets that failed to generate but payment was debited, IRCTC usually auto-refunds within 3–5 working days (UPI tends to be quicker; cards/netbanking can take 5–7 working days depending on the bank). If you do not see credit after 7 working days, call the 0755 helpline or write to [email protected] with your Transaction ID and ask for the bank reference number (ARN/RRN) to chase with your bank.

TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) is used when you seek a refund after charting in specific cases—train cancelled, train late by 3+ hours and you didn’t travel, coach not attached, AC failure, or passenger not travelled. File TDR online from your IRCTC account within the permitted time windows (for example, “passenger not travelled” should be filed up to 4 hours before scheduled departure; train cancelled is auto-refunded if the train is officially cancelled). TDR decisions rest with the concerned Zonal Railway, and resolution commonly takes 30–60 days.

If a refund is pending beyond the typical window: step 1) raise a ticket with the 0755 helpline and note the docket number; step 2) email [email protected] or [email protected] attaching the docket and proofs; step 3) if unresolved after 15–30 days, escalate via RailMadad (include the IRCTC docket and PNR). As a final resort for long-pending, well-documented cases, you may file on the Centralized Public Grievance Portal at https://pgportal.gov.in with all references.

Fraud-safety checklist when dealing with “IRCTC customer care”

Because IRCTC is widely used—over 20 million rail passengers travel daily across India—fraudsters often spoof helpline numbers or send phishing links. Use this checklist to stay safe on calls and online.

• IRCTC never asks for OTPs, full card numbers, UPI PINs, or remote-access apps (AnyDesk/TeamViewer). Disconnect if asked.
• Only use numbers listed above or on https://www.irctc.co.in and https://www.irctctourism.com; avoid numbers from ads/comments or unofficial maps.
• Type URLs yourself; ensure the padlock and domain irctc.co.in, irctctourism.com, air.irctc.co.in, or railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in. Do not pay on lookalike domains.
• On calls, share only the last four digits of a card if needed for identification. Never share CVV, PIN, or UPI PIN.
• If scammed, immediately call your bank to block the instrument, file a complaint on https://cybercrime.gov.in, and record the call/chat details.

For social support updates and advisories, follow the verified X (Twitter) handles: @IRCTCofficial and @RailwaySeva. Avoid engaging with unverified accounts offering “instant refunds” or “quota tickets.”

Official address and identifiers

IRCTC Limited (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) Registered/Corporate Office: 11th Floor, Statesman House, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi – 110001. This is the principal correspondence address for corporate matters; customer issues are best routed through the helplines and portals above for faster action.

Keep a personal log of your interactions: date/time of call, number dialed, agent name (if given), and docket/ticket ID. With these details and the official numbers and links listed here, you can resolve most booking, refund, or service issues efficiently and safely.