Booking window reminders
Email or phone notification: the evening before, and 20 minutes before IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, the Indian Railways booking website and app) opens your date.
What you get
Three messages per reminder: a confirmation right away, a heads-up at 19:00 the evening before, and a final nudge 20 minutes before the window opens: 07:40 for the general quota, 09:40 for Tatkal.
- Right awayConfirmationOne email to switch the reminder on, with a calendar file for the opening minute.
- The evening before, 19:00Get readyTomorrow’s date and time, and the Aadhaar, master list and payment checks to do tonight.
- 20 minutes beforeLog in nowThe time, the date and a link straight to IRCTC train search.
Why email, and why twenty minutes
Booking opens at 08:00 and the good berths are gone by 08:02. A calendar alarm is easy to dismiss; an email with the date, the time and the link is harder to lose, and it works on any phone without an app.
Twenty minutes is enough to log in, pick the train and fill the passenger list, and short enough that you are still at the screen when the clock turns.
Reminders follow the 60 days calculator: the date counts from the day the train leaves its first station, so pick the start option there if you board mid-route. Hindi: हिंदी.
Reminder questions
When do the reminder emails arrive?
Two per window: at 19:00 IST the evening before, and 20 minutes before it opens (07:40 for the general quota; 09:40 for Tatkal, ahead of the 10:00 AC and 11:00 non-AC windows). Both say the exact date and time and link to IRCTC.
Does it cost anything or need an account?
No. Enter an email address and a date. The first time, you confirm by tapping a link in the email. Every email has a link to stop reminders.
Can I get it on my phone instead of email?
Yes. Open this page on your phone and tap Notify on this phone. No phone number is needed: the browser asks once for permission, then the reminder pops up in the notification bar like a message alert. Use the link in any notification to stop.
Can it remind me for Tatkal?
Yes. Pick Tatkal and you get the reminder the day before the journey, timed for the 10:00 AC and 11:00 non-AC windows.
What about the return trip?
Add the return date and you get a second reminder when that window opens, usually days later.
Does RailwayHelper book the ticket?
No. It never asks for your IRCTC login, OTP or payment. The email links you to IRCTC; you book there.
What do you store?
Your email address, the dates, your language and a hashed IP address used only to limit abuse. It is deleted when you unsubscribe or 30 days after the window opens.