Online travel portal Cleartrip has updated its Android app to include train bookings. The app allows users to search, check availability and book trains directly from their Android devices, in addition to enabling them to check the PNR status of their wait-listed tickets.
The railway reservation feature on the app integrates Cleartrip features such as stored cards, that allow users to save their credit card details for quick payments at the time of checkout, and saved traveller profiles, that lets you save personal details of friends and families so you don't waste time filling the information while booking a ticket.
Cleartrip has also announced that it won't be levying an additional service fee for booking train tickets through the app, and the user would only pay the IRCTC reservation charges in addition to the train fare.
The app offers a clutter free interface inline with Android's Holo design language. It allows users to search for trains and filter them across parameters like Price, Time and Duration.
It's also worth pointing out that on first use, you'll need to sync your IRCTC account by following the instruction on Cleartrip's
website. This is a one time activity only. Users can search for trains and for the PNR status without syncing their accounts, though.
IRCTC had also launched its own mobile website, in January 2012, and offers train bookings via third party mobile payments services apps such as ngPay and Pyro. It has also recently
launched train ticket bookings through SMS and USSD.