from last two days I too feel IRCTC has improved. Yesterday booked 2 tickets (normal) of 6 persons each in just 4 minutes around 1PM. And the preferred coach ID option is really great for making reservations in trains with long coach compositions. Now I am waiting for day when we will be allowed to choose our berths (RM said it would start on 15 aug 2014 as apilot project in Shatabdi expresses) in sleeper class coaches.