Train Tickets & Train Running Status: How I Tracked My Journey Like a Pro

I still remember the mild panic of sitting on a platform in Patna last summer, staring at the electronic board that hadn’t updated in half an hour. My train to Delhi was nowhere in sight, and the crowd around me was getting restless. I had already booked my train tickets online, but the bigger challenge was figuring out whether the train was on time, delayed, or rerouted. That’s when I realized how important it is not only to book seats in advance but also to keep track of the train running status in real time.

Buying Train Tickets Without the Hassle

Until a few years ago, standing in line at the railway station was the only way to secure train tickets. Today, the process is far more convenient. I used redRail to book mine. It’s connected to IRCTC, so the availability, pricing, and confirmation chances are updated live. According to data published by IRCTC, over 80% of train tickets in India are now booked online (Source: IRCTC Annual Report 2023). That means most travellers, like me, are skipping the counters entirely.

What worked in my favor was how simple the system felt. I could check seat availability, compare timings, and even see if my chances of getting a confirmed berth were high before booking. No more running to travel agents or keeping multiple tabs open.

Tracking Live Train Status

Booking is just step one. The real test begins on the day of travel. I learned this the hard way when my train got delayed. Instead of asking station staff or waiting for the announcement system to update, I opened the live train running status on redRail. Within seconds, I knew the exact location of the train, the delay in minutes, and the estimated arrival at my station.

According to Indian Railways’ own data, about 12% of long-distance trains face delays of over 30 minutes on average (Source: Indian Railways Operational Data, 2023). That’s not a small number. For someone like me, who had a connecting bus to catch in Delhi, knowing this information early helped me adjust my plan without unnecessary stress.

Best Tools for Real-Time Updates

There are a few ways people generally track trains, but not all are reliable. Station announcement boards, for example, are often delayed themselves. In my experience, the following tools worked best:

1. redRail live status tracker – Accurate and directly synced with railway data.
2. SMS updates – Useful if the internet connection drops. IRCTC provides alerts for delays and cancellations.
3. Indian Railways website – It works, though it can feel a bit heavy to load during peak hours.

Of these, redRail stood out because it combined booking and tracking in one place. I didn’t have to juggle between apps.

Lessons Learned from My Journey

Looking back, a few lessons stand out from this trip:

• Always book train tickets at least 15–20 days in advance, especially during holidays. Data shows that Tatkal tickets make up nearly 20% of bookings (Source: Ministry of Railways), and they vanish within minutes of opening.
• Don’t depend solely on station announcements for train running status. Have a backup tracker on your phone.
• If you’re making a connecting journey, always allow buffer time. My bus was two hours after the train’s scheduled arrival, and the delay nearly ruined the plan.

Smarter Travel Going Forward

My experience taught me that managing a train journey is not just about getting a seat. It’s about keeping track of every detail until you reach your destination. With digital platforms like redRail, travellers have access to real-time train running status and a seamless ticketing process that reduces uncertainty. The next time I travel, I know I’ll be better prepared, more informed, and less stressed.