Normal Diwali 2026 train bookings ran into heavy traffic at 8 am, leaving many passengers unable to complete reservations on the IRCTC website, Railone app and IRCTC’s beta booking interface.
Diwali 2026 falls on November 8. As bookings opened, users reported delays, unavailable seat details and booking sessions that failed to move forward. The disruption affected the wider IRCTC platform ecosystem rather than only one booking channel.
What happened during the booking rush
The highload period lasted roughly fifty minutes. During that time, users saw the message “We Are experiencing High Load-Please retry”, while the platforms failed to display seat availability or advance some booking attempts.
Reports from Monday and Tuesday described similar problems across the IRCTC website, Railone app and beta version. Tens of thousands of would-be passengers were caught in the rush, and many reported being left without tickets after trying repeatedly.
Some users also described repeated session terminations. Pranav, one of the users who commented on the issue, called for a systemic overhaul. Another user tagged rail authorities while asking when a stable train-ticket booking portal would be available.
Waiting lists appeared after the surge
Once the traffic eased, waiting-list bookings began appearing for popular trains. The Ranaikhit Express, for example, showed waiting-list booking around 8:50 am.
The shift meant that passengers who had been unable to complete bookings during the highload period faced reduced availability after the rush. The beta interface, which was introduced to streamline booking, also encountered highload during the same period.
Why platforms show highload messages
A tech expert explained that servers may return HTTP 429 or HTTP 503 status codes when demand is being managed to avoid a complete system crash. Such responses can appear to users as a highload message while the system attempts to control traffic.
NBT Tech observed and noted the issue during the affected period, and screenshots from that time are available for reference. IRCTC has not provided an official response to the reports.
Conclusion
The Diwali booking rush exposed access and availability problems across IRCTC’s website, Railone app and beta interface, with users reporting failed sessions and waiting-list outcomes after the highload period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When did Diwali 2026 train bookings open?
Normal bookings opened at 8 am, when users reported highload across the IRCTC booking channels.
Q. Which platforms faced highload?
Reports covered the IRCTC website, Railone app and the beta version of IRCTC’s booking interface.
Q. How long did the highload period last?
The disruption continued for roughly fifty minutes.
Q. Which error message did users see?
Users saw “We Are experiencing High Load-Please retry”.
Q. When did waiting-list bookings appear for the Ranaikhit Express?
Waiting-list booking for the popular train began around 8:50 am after the load eased.
Q. What server responses can produce a highload message?
A tech expert said HTTP 429 or HTTP 503 responses may be used as servers manage unusually high demand.
Q. Has IRCTC responded officially?
IRCTC has not provided an official response to these reports.
