Pakistan Railways Ticket Booking Online: Step by Step

To do Pakistan Railways ticket booking online, you register an account with your real CNIC and mobile number, search for your train and date, enter each passenger's details exactly as they appear on their ID, pay, and keep the e-ticket confirmation. Bookings go through the official RABTA app or the Pakistan Railways website, and seats can generally be reserved up to 90 days before departure. The part that catches people out is the refund policy: cancelling costs 10 to 30 per cent of the fare, and nothing at all is refunded close to departure.

This guide follows the booking step by step, lists what to carry on the day, and sets out the cancellation deductions from the railway's own terms. Details of apps and portals change, so check the official site if a screen looks different from what is described here.

Step 1: Register an account

Pakistan Railways requires registration before you can book. The form asks for your full name, mobile number, email address, CNIC number and nearest station. The railway's terms say you must give your real CNIC number when you register, since tickets are issued to named passengers and are not transferable.

Use the official app or the official website address, and be wary of look-alike sites that ask for money or one-time passwords. The railway is the only body that sells its tickets, along with authorised partners such as the RABTA app, so a link sent to you on social media should not be trusted with your card details.

Step 2: Search for your train

Enter the departure station, the destination and the date. You will see the trains that run between the two, with the classes available on each. Popular long-distance services, such as the Green Line between Karachi and Islamabad, fill up early in holiday periods, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Classes, fares and timetables vary by train and change from time to time, so read them on the booking screen and don't rely on figures from an old blog or a screenshot. If you are thinking about a long rail journey north, see our guide on Karachi to the northern areas by train for what the rail network does and does not reach.

Step 3: Enter passenger details

Enter each traveller's name and CNIC exactly as printed on their ID. Passengers must carry the original identity document used for the booking, so if you are booking for your parents, put in their details, not your own.

Children and infants have their own rules depending on age and class. Read the notes on the booking screen rather than guessing.

Step 4: Pay and save your confirmation

Payment options include debit and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard), JazzCash, Easypaisa and online or mobile banking. Use only the options shown inside the official checkout, and never transfer money to a personal account to "hold" a seat.

After payment you receive an e-ticket with a booking reference, sent by SMS and email and shown in the app. Keep screenshots. On the day, the SMS or e-ticket plus your original CNIC are what you show at the station and to the ticket inspector.

Cancellations and refunds

The railway's terms set out deductions for e-tickets, based on how far ahead of departure you cancel:

News reports have described a slightly different last tier, so read the rule on the official site at the time of booking, and don't count on getting anything back in the last couple of hours.

Other points from the terms and reports:

• Online tickets are refunded through the payment platform you used, to the same payment method. You cannot walk up to a station counter and get an online ticket refunded in cash.
• If Pakistan Railways cancels the train, you are entitled to a full refund, and reports say the same applies when a train leaves its origin station more than six hours late.
• No refund after departure.

If your plans are uncertain, cancel early. The difference between the 10 per cent and 30 per cent tiers on a family booking is real money.

What to carry on the day

• The original CNIC of every adult passenger, and any ID required for children
• The e-ticket SMS or a screenshot of the confirmation
• Some cash for the station, porters and snacks
• Water, snacks and a light blanket for a night journey, since air conditioning can be cold and meals on board vary

Arrive at the station well ahead of departure. Big stations such as Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi Cantt are busy, and finding the right platform takes time. If you are heading north from Rawalpindi afterwards, see our Lahore to Islamabad by bus guide for how the bus compares, or the online bus booking guide if you prefer a coach.

Who should take the train

The train suits people who want to lie down on a long overnight journey, families with luggage, and travellers who like to watch the country go by. On the busiest corridor, Lahore to Islamabad, the motorway bus is faster, so choose the train for comfort and price, not speed. For the long Karachi to Lahore run the train is a real alternative to driving, which our Karachi to Lahore by road guide describes.

Rail travel in Pakistan is subject to delays. Trains can run late, especially in winter fog and after heavy rain or flooding, so avoid tight connections on the same day and don't book a flight or a hotel check-in that depends on the train arriving on time. For a full itinerary, our tours and trip planning page build in a margin like this.

Frequently asked questions