Indian Railways carries millions of passengers every single day and plays a key role in connecting the country. For most travellers, booking a train ticket online through IRCTC has become the easiest and fastest option. However, many users often notice that ticket booking suddenly stops late at night.
Every day, IRCTC ticket booking is paused for 45 minutes between 11:45 PM and 12:30 AM. This short break often confuses passengers, especially those trying to book tickets late at night.
Online Ticket Booking Has Changed Travel Habits
Earlier, people had to stand in long queues at railway ticket counters. Today, IRCTC allows passengers to book tickets from anywhere using a mobile or computer.
From sleeper class to AC coaches and Tatkal bookings, most reservations are now done online. This system handles lakhs of bookings daily, making it one of the busiest ticketing platforms in the country.
The Midnight Booking Pause Explained
The main reason for the daily booking pause is server maintenance. During this time, Indian Railways performs technical checks and system upgrades on IRCTC servers.
This maintenance window ensures that the website and app run smoothly throughout the day without crashes, delays, or booking errors.
What Happens During Server Maintenance Time
Between 11:45 PM and 12:30 AM, IRCTC systems temporarily stop all major services. During this period:
- Ticket booking is not allowed
- Train schedules cannot be checked
- PNR status cannot be accessed
- Any transaction attempt may fail
This pause helps prevent data errors, duplicate bookings, and payment issues.
Why Maintenance Is Done Only At Night
Night hours have the lowest traffic on IRCTC compared to daytime. Conducting maintenance during this time causes minimum inconvenience to passengers.
With nearly 7–8 lakh tickets booked daily, the system needs a fixed time to refresh data, sync transactions, and improve performance.
Earlier Booking Timings Were More Restricted
In the past, ticket booking used to stop even earlier, around 11:30 PM. Due to passenger complaints, Indian Railways extended the booking window till 11:45 PM.
This change reduced downtime and made the system more user-friendly while still allowing enough time for maintenance.
Why This Pause Is Important For Passengers
Though inconvenient for some, this daily break helps ensure a reliable and safe booking experience. Without regular maintenance, users could face failed payments, wrong bookings, or system crashes during peak hours.
In the long run, this small pause improves efficiency and protects passenger data.
Conclusion
The 45-minute pause in IRCTC ticket booking every night is not a glitch but a necessary technical step. It allows Indian Railways to maintain one of the world’s largest online ticketing systems smoothly.
Instead of being an inconvenience, this break helps ensure that passengers enjoy faster, safer, and more reliable bookings throughout the day.