Indian Railways Introduces RailOne App: Your All-in-One Travel Companion

On July 1, 2025, Indian Railways launched the RailOne app, a game-changing super app designed to simplify the travel experience for millions of passengers. Unveiled by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the 40th Foundation Day of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) in Delhi, RailOne consolidates a wide range of railway services into a single, user-friendly platform. From booking tickets to tracking trains and ordering meals, this app aims to make rail travel smoother and more convenient. Here’s a detailed look at what RailOne offers, its features, and whether it’s worth downloading.

What Is the RailOne App?

RailOne is an all-in-one mobile application developed by CRIS to streamline passenger and freight services. Available on both Android (Google Play Store) and iOS (App Store), the app integrates functionalities previously scattered across multiple platforms like IRCTC Rail Connect, UTS, National Train Enquiry System (NTES), Rail Madad, and Food on Track. With over 2.5 crore passengers traveling daily on Indian Railways, RailOne eliminates the hassle of juggling multiple apps for different tasks, offering a seamless and intuitive user experience.

The app was launched alongside significant updates to the passenger reservation system, including changes to tatkal booking rules and enhanced backend infrastructure to handle up to 150,000 reservations and 4 million enquiries per minute by December 2025.

Key Features of RailOne

RailOne is packed with features to cater to every aspect of rail travel. Here’s what you can do with the app:

1. Ticket Booking: Book reserved, unreserved, and platform tickets with ease. RailOne offers a 3% discount on unreserved and platform tickets, making it a cost-effective option for short trips.
2. PNR and Train Status: Check PNR status, live train locations, coach positions, and train schedules in real time.
3. Journey Planning: Plan your trips with personalized route suggestions and fare details, including a fare calendar for better decision-making.
4. E-Catering: Order meals onboard from a variety of menus, ensuring you don’t go hungry during your journey.
5. Grievance Redressal: File complaints or provide feedback via the integrated Rail Madad system, with options for refund requests for canceled or missed trains.
6. Freight and Parcel Enquiries: Access information on freight services and parcel tracking, making it useful for businesses as well.
7. Porter and Taxi Services: Book porters or last-mile taxi services for a hassle-free station experience.
8. R-Wallet Integration: Use Indian Railways’ e-wallet for quick and secure payments, with options for numeric mPIN or biometric login.
9. Single Sign-On: Log in using existing Rail Connect or UTS credentials, eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords.
10. Accessibility Features: Supports multiple Indian languages and dedicated options for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities), students, and patients.

The app’s clean interface, smart technology for personalized alerts, and support for multilingual access make it user-friendly for everyone, from tech-savvy travelers to those less familiar with digital platforms.

Why RailOne Matters

Before RailOne, passengers relied on multiple apps—IRCTC Rail Connect for reserved tickets, UTS for unreserved tickets, NTES for train tracking, Rail Madad for complaints, and Food on Track for meals. This fragmentation was time-consuming and inconvenient, especially during peak booking periods like tatkal, when the IRCTC app often faced outages. RailOne addresses these pain points by:

• Consolidating Services: No need to switch between apps; everything is available in one place, saving device storage and simplifying the process.
• Enhancing Reliability: The app is built to handle high traffic, addressing past complaints about IRCTC app crashes during tatkal bookings.
• Improving Accessibility: Features like single sign-on, biometric login, and multilingual support make it inclusive for all users.
• Supporting Digital India: RailOne aligns with the government’s push for a unified digital ecosystem, reducing reliance on third-party apps.

Additionally, from July 1, 2025, tatkal bookings require Aadhaar or DigiLocker authentication, with OTP verification to be implemented by month-end, ensuring a fairer booking process. The app’s backend upgrades will also support advanced features like early chart preparation and seat choice options.

Should You Download RailOne?

Reasons to Download

1. Convenience: RailOne replaces the need for multiple apps, making it a one-stop solution for all railway needs.
2. Cost Savings: The 3% discount on unreserved and platform tickets is a small but welcome perk.
3. Reliability: With a robust backend and fewer outages, it’s a promising alternative to the often-criticized IRCTC app.
4. User-Friendly Design: The intuitive interface, single sign-on, and multilingual support cater to diverse users.
5. Comprehensive Features: From ticket booking to food ordering and grievance redressal, RailOne covers every aspect of travel.

Potential Drawbacks

1. Beta Testing Phase: Some sources note that RailOne is still in beta, so users may encounter minor bugs or glitches initially.
2. Tatkal Challenges: Despite improvements, tatkal bookings remain highly competitive, and the app’s success in handling peak demand is yet to be fully tested.
3. Learning Curve: Users accustomed to older apps may need time to adapt to RailOne’s interface, though it’s designed to be intuitive.

How to Download and Use RailOne

1. Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your mobile device.
2. Search for “RailOne” and select the app developed by CRIS.
3. Download and install the app.
4. Register with your phone number or log in using existing Rail Connect or UTS credentials.
5. Explore sections like ticket booking, train search, PNR tracking, e-catering, and Rail Madad to manage your travel needs.

Final Verdict

The RailOne app is a significant step forward for Indian Railways, offering a unified platform that simplifies travel for millions of passengers. Its comprehensive features, user-friendly design, and focus on reliability make it a must-have for frequent and occasional travelers alike. While it’s still in its early stages, RailOne has the potential to revolutionize rail travel by addressing long-standing issues like app outages and fragmented services. Download it today to experience a smarter, faster, and more convenient way to travel with Indian Railways.

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Disclaimer: Always verify app authenticity before downloading. For the latest updates, check official Railway Ministry sources or the CRIS website.