Good news for train passengers! A Super App is coming but will it be better than IRCTC Rail Connect

Indian Railways is set to overhaul its consumer-facing services in 100 days after the Lok Sabha polls. A leg of its doubled-down efforts to enhance passenger experience is the rollout of a new ‘Super App’, which will offer basic facilities such as booking a train ticket and cancelling it along with some other features, currently unavailable through an online service. Also Read: Indian Railways Launches RailOne App To Book Tickets, Track Trains And Order Food - ALL Details

The new Super App will provide users with a range of options aimed at reducing friction between them and Indian Railways. In other words, the government is hoping to reduce offline engagements to save time and effort for passengers. There is no clarity on whether the upcoming app will encompass IRCTC services, but according to a report by Times of India, services such as a streamlined ticket cancellation process with a hassle-free refund within a day will be a part of it. The current procedure involves a three-day wait for a refund while cancelling tickets is slightly more tedious than booking them. Also Read: Indian Railways Super App will change the way you manage travelling

What does the IRCTC Rail Connect app offer?

The Super App is expected to be more useful than the existing services, but what exactly are they? The official mobile app for IRCTC services called IRCTC Rail Connect has many features. Available on both Android and iOS, the app lets passengers book tickets for all trains with a reservation facility, cancel them, process payments from various methods, such as UPI, credit card, debit card, and digital wallets, and PNR enquiry, among other things. The app also allows passengers to book bus and flight tickets, as well as make reservations at hotels in different cities. Also Read: Stay at government hotels for less than Rs. 100!

Will the IRCTC Rail Connect app be discontinued?

The report that the Indian Railways is working on a Super App hints at the speculation that existing services from the government will be merged. That means they will cease to exist after the Super App is rolled out. However, there is no confirmation from Indian Railways. The report also does not talk about the future of the IRCTC Rail Connect app. The only possibility of the app’s discontinuation is its underwhelming interface, often resulting in a poor experience. The IRCTC Rail Connect’s review section on the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store is flooded with negative reviews, underlining the app’s inability to handle payments or the tendency to crash repeatedly. Should Indian Railways decide to discontinue this app in favour of the upcoming Super App, passengers could be in for a respite.