MakeMyTrip announces tech-driven services to transform train travel experience, check details

MakeMyTrip (MMT), an online travel company has announced to launch a host of tech-driven features designed to enhance railway journey and address common consumer problems, the company said in a press release on May 23.

The company segmented that among the most pressing concerns for customers has been the difficulty in securing confirmed tickets. Initially, the booking window for confirmed tickets opens 120 days before the trip and fills up rapidly, often leaving travellers with waitlisted tickets.

With regards to this, it has brought a 'seat lock feature; on MakeMyTrip Trains that allows travellers to secure a confirmed ticket by paying just 25 per cent of the fare, with the remainder payable up to 24 hours before travel, the company said.

“We are committed to enriching train travel and ensuring every journey is a memorable experience on MakeMyTrip. We looked at the entire thread of train travel – from planning and identifying the right train to the actual purchase experience and all the way through to pre-arrival stages," said Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip.

According to MMT, the other problem area is for some train ticket bookings confirmed tickets are not always available on direct trains/trains of choice for the preferred date of travel. To overcome this issue, the 'connected travel' feature helps by combining bus and train journeys and providing multiple combinations while considering layover time and overall travel duration, the company said.

The company also launched the 'route extension assistance' feature. For instance, if a traveller cannot find a confirmed seat from station A to B, the algorithm suggests an option from station A to C on the same train, enabling the traveller to disembark at station B which falls in the route of the suggested train, also with the Food in Train feature, travellers can explore a variety of restaurants and easily schedule food delivery to their seats, even after the journey has begun.

To ensure a hassle-free travel experience, the train's funnel on the platform now also provides PNR and availability alerts for proactive updates on booking status and personalized alternative travel recommendations.

The 'train tracking' and 'platform locator' features give train travellers all the necessary information for boarding and de-boarding in one place even when the phone network is a challenge.

Additionally, the free cancellation option provides a 100 per cent cancellation penalty waiver, giving customers the flexibility to change their travel plans without worrying about high cancellation fees.