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Major railway stations across Kerala are set to introduce dedicated RailOne Self-Ticketing Zones to improve passenger services and reduce long queues at ticket counters. The first stations to get these facilities include Ernakulam Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central, and Tripunithura Railway Station. This initiative is a new step by Indian Railways to promote digital ticketing and make travel more convenient for commuters.
RailOne Self-Ticketing Zones in Kerala's Stations
Currently, passengers buy unreserved tickets from ticket counters or Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs). The new self-ticketing zones will provide another option, allowing passengers to book tickets easily through the RailOne mobile app. Railway officials plan to launch the project at three major stations on a trial basis and later expand it to 102 stations between Thiruvananthapuram and Vadakkencherry before the Onam festival.
How will the App Benefit Passengers?
To encourage passengers to use the RailOne app, a 3% discount will be offered on unreserved tickets purchased within these designated zones. The zones will be set up at prominent locations inside stations and equipped with modern facilities. Large 65-inch digital screens will display QR codes that passengers can scan to book tickets. Other screens will provide real-time information such as train schedules for the next three hours, platform details, coach positions, and updates on delayed trains.
Apart from booking unreserved tickets, passengers will also be able to purchase platform tickets and book executive AC lounges, cloakroom services, and porter assistance through the app.
The project aims to reduce congestion at busy stations. Railway data shows that nearly 40% of passengers buy tickets only after reaching the station, causing long queues at counters and ATVMs. Stations like Ernakulam handle around three lakh passengers daily, making crowd management a challenge.
Passengers will need to download the RailOne app to use the new system. Indian Railways aims to increase digital ticket purchases from the current 25% to 50% by the end of the year. The new zones will also solve the issue of booking restrictions near stations by creating dedicated areas where passengers can conveniently purchase tickets after arriving at the station.