The Railways is aiming to leverage on the huge reach of the mobile retail outlets and in an attempt to target the mobile subscribers is planning to offer railways tickets at mobile recharge shops.

The process of buying a ticket through such a shop will involve the mobile subscriber to pay for the railway ticket at the shop subsequent to which the money will be transferred to the service provider who in turn will transfer the amount to the railways. The Railways will then issue a unique PIN to the subscriber who can produce the same at the Railways kiosks to receive the printout of the ticket. This is expected to substantially reduce the queue at ticket counters.

Railways is reportedly in talks with operators as well as cash transfer through mobile phones solution providers for the initiative. Trials are also reported to be conducted in Mumbai.

Initially the service will offer unreserved tickets and there after the services will offer reserved tickets as well.