Mumbai, December 23: Railway passengers attempting Tatkal train ticket bookings on December 23, 2025, reported significant technical difficulties with the IRCTC website and mobile app. Multiple users encountered repeated “connection issue” errors, particularly during the payment stage, despite stable internet connections. In several cases, payments were deducted from bank accounts, but no tickets or PNR numbers were generated.

Social media platforms were flooded with complaints, including screenshots of error messages, sudden logouts at the exact opening times of Tatkal windows, and prolonged loading screens. Users from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata highlighted these issues, with some alleging that the system appeared to favour agents while genuine passengers faced barriers. WhatsApp Hack Scam in Barabanki: UP Man Loses INR 4.44 Lakh After Clicking on ‘Accident Photo’; Know How To Be Safe.

IRCTC Responds to X Users Individually, Asks Them to Use E-Query for Complaints 

Connection Issue, Error Occurring During Tatkal Booking at IRCTC: X User 

Worst Service, Says X User Suffering From IRCTC Booking Glitches

IRCTC Connection Issue, X User Shares Screenshot of Outage

IRCTC Useless Aadhaar OTP Rules, Complains X User

IRCTC Down; Netizens Complain Over Social Media Platforms

Many users shared “connection” issues on the mobile application and website. The outage monitoring site Downdetector recorded a moderate spike in reports, with various complaints noted around peak hours. Most of these pertained to the website, and the remainder to the app. No full-scale outage was confirmed, however.

This incident follows Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s December 4 statement claiming 99.98% uptime for the IRCTC platform from April to October 2025. Such disruptions during high-demand Tatkal periods remain a recurring concern, often linked to heavy simultaneous traffic from millions of users. Despite measures such as expanded server capacity, anti-bot protocols, and mandatory Aadhaar verification for Tatkal bookings, peak-hour errors persist.

IRCTC Responded to Various Complaints on X

IRCTC has issued an official statement regarding the December 23 outage incidents. The authority asked the users to complain via its e-query portal and said that deducted amounts from failed transactions would be refunded within five to six working days. Shashi Tharoor Steals the Show by Singing Iconic ‘Ek Ajanabee Haseena Se’ Song During Nalanda Literature Festival 2025 Inauguration Event in Rajgir (Watch Video).

IRCTC Services Down, Recommendations for Passengers:

  •  Book tickets in advance to avoid dependence on Tatkal quotas.

  •  In case of online failures, visit the nearest Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter at railway stations, which operates independently.

  •  Retain screenshots of errors and transaction details to support refund claims for unsuccessful payments.

  •  Attempt bookings during off-peak hours for potentially fewer disruptions.

These technical challenges continue to impact travellers, particularly during periods of elevated demand. Enhanced system stability would help ensure reliable access for all users.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 23, 2025 01:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).