How to Book Local Train Tickets Online Using the UTS App

If you live in any city in India that has a suburban train network, like Chennai or Mumbai, you know the pain of queuing to book tickets. Indian Railways has tried various alternatives to allow people to avoid long queues, but none of them are as convenient as booking local train tickets using smartphone apps. That’s why Indian Railways launched UTS app. UTS stands for Unreserved Ticketing System and is only available for seats that do not require reservations. You cannot book unreserved seats on outbound trains through the UTS app, but it can be booked for local trains.

The UTS app allows you to book two types of tickets – paper tickets and paperless tickets. Paper tickets require you to book on the UTS app and then print the ticket from ATVMs (Automated Ticket Vending Machines) available at over 1,000 stations across India. On the other hand, paperless tickets available in some cities can be booked on the UTS app without printing.

Things to note before booking paperless tickets on UTS app

There are a few things you need to keep in mind before booking your tickets on the UTS app.

• Paperless tickets can be booked through the UTS app in the following cities: Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Secunderabad.
• You need to be within 2 kilometers of the source station to book paperless tickets. The UTS app requires location access to book tickets.
• You cannot book paperless tickets while standing on the tracks or inside a train. This worked for us sometimes as GPS is not completely accurate, but in most cases the app does not allow you to book tickets inside the train.
• Paperless tickets can be accessed offline. You can show this information to the ticket inspector via the UTS app.
• The tickets you booked on the UTS app will be useless if your phone battery dies. So remember to charge your phone before taking a suburban train.

Book paper tickets via UTS app? remember these things

You can book paper tickets through the UTS app, but there are things you should know first.

• You can book paper tickets without giving the UTS app access to your phone’s location.
• You need to print your ticket at the ATVM self-service terminal at the train station.
• If you do not print a paper ticket booked through the UTS app, you may be fined.
• The ink on tickets printed at the ticket booths tends to fade quickly, so we strongly recommend that you do not book printed season tickets through the UTS app.
• There are quite a few ATVM kiosks at train stations that are out of service, so you don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you can’t print your ticket.

How to download the UTS app and register to book local train tickets

You can download the UTS app on Android, iPhone and Windows Phone.

Follow the steps below to create an account through the UTS application.

1. Open the UTS app on your smartphone and tap three vertical points icon in the upper right corner and click Register. Alternatively, you can visit the UTS website and click Sign up.
2. Enter your mobile number, name, password, gender and check the box indicating your acceptance of the terms and conditions. Then, click Enter all information.
3. Now you will receive the OTP (One Time Password) via SMS. Enter the four-digit OTP and click submit.

This will complete the registration process on the UTS application.

How to book paperless tickets for local trains on the UTS app

Please follow the steps below to book paperless tickets on the UTS app.

1. Open the UTS app on Android or iPhone.
2. If you are not logged in yet, please click Log in button in the upper right corner. This button looks like a Rectangle with right arrow on iPhone.
3. Enter your credentials and once logged in, click Book tickets.
4. tap ordinary book.
5. choose Bookings and travel tab at the top and click continue.
6. below Depart from the station Select the station you want to book at. Keep in mind that you need to be less than 2 kilometers from the source station. If your distance is more than 2 km, the UTS app will not allow you to book paperless tickets.
7. below to the stationselect your destination.
8. tap continue.
9. On the next screen there are multiple options – number of passengers, one way or return ticket, first class or second class, AC or non-AC train and finally the payment gateway (R-Wallet or other payment gateway). Select these as per your requirement and click on Get fare.
10. Now check all the details once and when you are ready, click on Book tickets.
11. This will redirect you to R-Wallet or payment gateway where you can complete the payment.
12. Now you will see the ticket in the application. If you don’t see this, please click Home icon in the upper right corner and click Booking history View tickets.

Even without internet, you can check your ticket or show it to the ticket collector on the train.

For more tutorials, visit our how-to section.