Till now one can only get a confirmed reserved ticket through e-ticketing system. But from now on, one can hope to get the ticket even if it is wait listed as the railways are developing a new software to enable the facility.

The proposal is likely to be included in the coming Railway budget, according to sources in the Railway Ministry.

The software is being developed by CRIS and a trial run is to be carried out shortly for its successful implementation, said the sources.

E-ticket was launched in a limited way in 2006. It was made operational first in Kalka Shatabdi and later on it was extended to all important trains.

One can avail the e-ticketing facility after registering at the prescribed railway site in the Internet and taking a print-out of the ticket after choosing the train, date of journey and class of travel.

About 50,000 tickets are booked on an average in a year through the system, the sources said.

Railways have undertaken several steps to reduce the rush at ticket counters.

Besides e-ticketing, automatic ticket vending machines (ATVM) are being installed at some selected stations. However, while e-ticketing is for reserved ticket, the ATVMs are meant for unreserved tickets.

"A large number of passengers travel on unreserved tickets. So we are planning to extend the Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevak (JSTBS) scheme, which is operational in Northern Railway, to all over the country," said the source.