CRIS develops new “Mobile App” to track Train Schedules
Centre for Railway Information Systems, the information and technology arm of railways, has launched a new mobile application which can be used for various enquiries including train timings, a senior Railway official said.
CRIS has enhanced the train enquiry system by developing the mobile app and a desktop application on Windows 8 platform for train enquiries with support from Microsoft, he added.
National Train Enquiry System is railways’ back-end system which provides information to the public about train schedules on a near real time basis through various interfaces like nationwide unique rail enquiry number 139, website (www.trainenquiry.com), mobile interfaces, touch screens, enquiry counters and display boards at stations.
An interface of NTES website along with a mobile version of it was launched in September 2013 earlier which has proved to be quite useful for train passengers, said the official.
Among the many features of the new mobile app is the ‘spot your train’ feature which offers information such as its current position, expected time of arrival and departure at a particular station. The ‘Train Schedule’ feature provides complete schedule of a train with all stoppages enroute and its scheduled arrival/departure at the station, distance and day count.
In ‘Trains between Stations’ query, one can find out the list of all types of trains available between any two stations on railway network. The mobile App also has ‘Cancelled Trains’ option which displays all trains marked as cancelled. It displays trains which are cancelled through the entire route as well as trains which are cancelled on partial route. Besides, it also provides features for query on rescheduled and diverted trains. The App has been launched for Windows 8.0 phones and will be further developed for other mobile platforms.
A strong need was felt for launching the mobile app with richer user interface keeping in view the current technology trends and which can be downloaded on the device and comfortably made use for train running related enquiries.
- To download the app, go to windows store and search for NTES app. App will be listed. Select NTES app and click to install.
- Link also has been provided on NTES website (www.trainenquiry.com and enquiry.indianrail.gov.in) to download the App.
The current Mobile application has the following main features:-
“Spot your train” – This query offers information about a train. Current running status, expected time of arrival/expected time of departure (ETA/ETD) at the queried station can be easily known through this query.
“Live Station” – This query has been given to replicate the display boards at station. One can see the trains expected to arrive/depart at any station in next 2 or 4 hours.
“Train Schedule”-This provides complete schedule of a train with all public stoppages enroute and schedule arrival/departure at the station, distance and day count.
“Trains between Stations” – One can find out the list of all types of trains available between any two stations over Indian Railways.
“Cancelled Trains” – This query displays all trains marked as cancelled on Indian Railways. The option displays trains which are cancelled through entire route as well as trains which are cancelled on partial route.
“Rescheduled Trains” -This query displays all trains marked as rescheduled on Indian Railways. The option displays trains’ rescheduled timings.
“Diverted Trains” – This query displays all trains marked as diverted on Indian Railways.
CRIS, has constantly been involved in taking new initiatives and developing various applications for Railway users and interfaces for general public to provide quality information about train running and other services with enhanced user experiences. Member Traffic, Railway Board, Shri D.P.Pandey while reviewing the IT projects with MD/CRIS and other officers of Railway Board and CRIS on 22nd April, 2014 appreciated the Mobile app developed by CRIS and expressed his hope that the app will be well received by mobile users and will certainly add great value to the services.
Here’s a verified and detailed overview of the new mobile app developed by CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) to track train schedules—and its evolution into the flagship RailOne Super App:
🚄 CRIS’s Initial Train-Tracking Mobile App (2014)
- In April 2014, CRIS released a mobile app version of the National Train Enquiry System (NTES)—initially built for Windows Phone and later expanded to other platforms. This app allowed users to:
- “Spot Your Train” and view its real-time position and expected arrival/departure at stations.
- Access full train schedules, “trains between stations,” cancellations, and diversions.
- Save favorite trains and stations for quick future access.
This marked the first time CRIS offered live train status directly via mobile, complementing web platforms and the 139 helpline.
📱 Evolution: Multi-App Integration & New Platforms
- Over the years, CRIS launched several apps—such as UTS for unreserved tickets, NTES for live status, Rail Madad for grievances, among others.
- Meanwhile, consumer apps like Where Is My Train (by Google-owned Sigmoid Labs) gained popularity by offering offline train tracking using cell tower data.
🌟 Introducing RailOne: CRIS’s Unified App (Launched July 2025)
- On July 1, 2025, CRIS launched the RailOne Super App, integrating all major passenger services into a single mobile interface.
- Key Features Include:
- Live train tracking and real-time coach positioning
- Reserved and unreserved ticketing, including platform tickets with a 3% UTS discount
- PNR enquiry, journey planning, fare estimates
- E-catering, porter & prepaid taxi bookings
- Grievance redressal via Rail Madad
- Secure payments via R‑Wallet (mPIN/biometric login)
- Single sign-on using IRCTC or UTS credentials
- Multilingual support to improve accessibility across regions
- One-stop dashboard replacing over a dozen separate apps previously maintained by CRIS and IRCTC
📊 Comparison Table
| App / Platform | Primary Functionality |
|---|---|
| NTES Mobile (2014) | Live train status, schedules, cancellations, diversions |
| Multiple CRIS apps | UTS ticketing, complaint handling (Rail Madad), etc. |
| RailOne Super App (2025) | Unified platform for ticketing, tracking, food, grievance, and more |
✅ Why It Matters
- Official Reliability: RailOne is backed by CRIS and IRCTC, ensuring accurate fare data, up-to-date schedules, and official grievance redressal.
- User Convenience: No need to juggle multiple apps—passengers can book, track, order food, and submit complaints via one interface.
- App Performance: Designed to handle high demand—modern backend system promises up to 150,000 bookings and 4 million enquiries per minute by December 2025.
- Inclusive & Accessible: Single sign-on, multi-language interface, and support for disabled passengers, students, and patients.
🧠 Community Feedback
- While NTES still receives criticism for usability and delayed updates, users expect RailOne to simplify the interface and reduce friction across services.
- Community sentiment suggests that RailOne’s integrated experience could surpass third-party app convenience, especially with coach finder, fare calculator, and live tracking built-in.
🧭 Final Takeaway
The track‑train app CRIS launched in 2025, part of NTES, laid foundational mobile access for train schedules and real-time status. Over the years, Indian Railways evolved toward a unified solution, culminating in the RailOne Super App in 2025. Developed by CRIS, it now consolidates live tracking, ticketing, bookings, support, and convenience into a single, streamlined application—transforming the passenger experience and setting a new standard for rail mobility in India.
Would you like a quick walkthrough of the live tracking feature, coach position finder, or how to book unreserved tickets with R‑Wallet discounts in RailOne?
