Indian Railways to begin Wakeup Call-Destination Alert Facility
NEW DELHI: In a bid to shed its past image of late and slow lacking modern facilities, Indian Railways has recently introduced several changes to provide better travel experience for its passengers. Of many path- breaking changes, one is a Wakeup Call-Destination Alert Facility, wherein, travellers will get an alert when their destination station arrives. According to the report, passengers will be able to activate the backup call-destination alert facility on their PNR by calling 139. The feature, named as ‘Destination Alert’, will send an alert passengers’ mobile, registered while booking the ticket, before the destination station arrives.
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Indian Railways to begin Wakeup Call-Destination Alert Facility
To activate this facility, passengers would have to type ‘Alert’ besides quoting their ‘PNR number’ and forward it to 139. They can also call up 139, choose the language and then dial 7. After dialing 7, the passengers will ned to quote their PNR number to activate the service.
Through this ‘Wakeup Call’ facility, passengers will get a mobile call prior to their destination, and the bell will keep on ringing till the call is received. When a passenger will receive the call, he/she will be informed that the station is about to arrive, the report said.
Indian Railways has also decided to make changes from July 1 to provide smooth travel experience to rail passengers. It will end waiting list and facilitate the passengers with confirmed tickets.
It will also start the facility of paperless ticketing in the capital and centenary trains, thereby, ending paper ticket in these trains. However, the tickets will be sent on mobile phone of a passenger.
The department will reportedly provide additional coaches from July 1 to Century and capital trains, besides introducing alternative train adjustment system to meet rush of passengers.
Here’s the verified update on the Indian Railways’ “Wake-up Call & Destination Alert Facility”, a service designed to alert passengers before their train reaches their destination—especially useful for overnight travel:
📲 What Is It?
- Also known as the Destination Alert or Wake‑Up Alarm, this service provides passengers with a phone call or SMS alert about 20–30 minutes before their destination station, helping them avoid missing their stop, particularly during night journeys ([turn0search5]turn0search14]turn0search11]).
- As per various media reports, the alert is usually triggered about 20 minutes prior to reaching the destination ([turn0search2]turn0search14]).
🛠️ How to Activate the Service
You can activate the alert via three methods using the number 139 (IR Enquiry helpline) from the same mobile number where you wish to get the alert:
1. IVR Menu
- Dial 139, select your language, then press 7.
- Choose:
- Press 1 for Wake-up Alarm
- Press 2 for Destination Alert
- Choose:
- Enter your 10-digit PNR and press 1 to confirm.
- You’ll receive an SMS confirmation:
“Wake-up Alert call has been set on your mobile number for ” (or Destination Alert call) ([turn0search1]turn0search7]).
2. SMS
- Send:
ALERT<PNR_NUMBER>to 139.
- Confirmation SMS will follow, specifying your destination ([turn0search1]turn0search4]turn0search0]).
3. Railway Enquiry Agent via 139
- Call 139 and request agent assistance.
- Provide your PNR and confirm the mobile number.
- The agent will set up the alert and you’ll receive confirmation SMS ([turn0search1]turn0search7]).
⏱️ Activation Window & Charges
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Operational Hours | Primarily between 11 PM and 7 AM |
| Alert Timing | Approximately 20–30 minutes before arrival |
| Call Charge (per minute) | ₹1.20 (metro), ₹2 (non-metro) per 60-sec pulse |
| SMS Charge | ₹3 per SMS |
⚠️ Current Status & Limitations
- Reddit users and online forums suggest the service has become unreliable or unofficially discontinued in many cases—messages like “date of travel not acceptable” appear, alert calls may never arrive, and attempts with SMS or Helpline agent often fail ([turn0search6]).
- Despite being promoted in media between 2025 and 2025, many travelers report the function no longer works consistently, indicating a possible undocumented suspension or backend deprecation.
✅ Summary Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Service Name | Wake-Up Alarm or Destination Alert |
| Activation Options | Call IVR, SMS ALERT, or via agent at 139 |
| Activation Window | Night trains between 11 PM–7 AM |
| Alert Timing | 20–30 minutes before destination |
| Charges | Call: ₹1.20–₹2/min, SMS: ₹3 per SMS |
| Current Reliability | Often inconsistent or non-functional now |
🧭 Final Takeaway
Indian Railways officially introduced the Wake-Up Call & Destination Alert facility to help night travelers avoid missing their station. Activation is via the helpline number 139 (IVR, SMS, or agent assistance), with alert calls arriving about 20 minutes before destination. However, despite initial rollout, user reports suggest that the service may no longer be reliably active, and many attempts fail to register or deliver the alert.
Would you like help checking if the service works for your upcoming journey, or alternatives such as app-based train tracking tools that can send reminder notifications?
