Train ticket reservations start 60 days prior to departure, but many travelers finalize their plans closer to the travel date. Data from MakeMyTrip indicates that nearly 40% of users book train tickets over several sessions.
Of these, 70% end up selecting waitlisted seats due to limited availability.
The availability timeframe also shifts with demand.
In April 2025, most high-speed trains were completely booked around 13 days before departure. By May, this window reduced to over 20 days due to a surge in demand.
The new forecasting tool is designed to aid users in planning more effectively. Travelers can now access predictions for seat availability directly within the booking flow on the MakeMyTrip app and website. This allows them to schedule their bookings more strategically, especially during peak seasons.
“Our goal is to make train travel more predictable and less stressful,” stated Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip. “This innovative feature employs data science to tackle a genuine planning challenge faced by millions of Indian rail passengers.”
Alongside the forecast, MakeMyTrip has also introduced Sold-out Alerts. This feature informs users when seat availability on their selected train dips below a specified threshold, promoting timely bookings.
(Edited by : Anshul)
First Published: Jun 2, 2025 5:06 PM IST
