IRCTC Dismisses Claims of Changes in Railway Tatkal Booking Timings; Details on Charges and Cancellation

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has clarified that no changes are planned to the Tatkal railway ticket booking system, dismissing recent claims that Indian Railways would overhaul it starting April 15.

The IRCTC issued this clarification because there were many misleading posts spreading on social media. Many posts falsely claimed that the timing for booking Tatkal tickets ha been changed. According to these posts, the new timings would be different for AC class, non-AC class, and booking agents. To stop confusion among passengers, IRCTC clarified that no such changes have been made to the Tatkal booking timings.

IRCTC took to its office X, or Twitter handle to post the clarification, "Some posts are circulating on Social Media channels mentioning about different timings for Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets. No such change in timings is currently proposed in the Tatkal or Premium Tatkal booking timings for AC or Non-AC classes. The permitted booking timings for agents also remain unchanged."

Existing Railway Rules for Tatkal Ticket Booking

As per the existing guidelines, a Tatkal e-ticket can be booked one day in advance of the journey date. However, the booking window excludes the day of departure from the train's original starting station.

For passengers travelling in AC classes, including Second AC (2A), Third AC (3A), Chair Car (CC), Executive Class (EC), and Third AC Economy (3E) , the Tatkal bookings open at 10:00 AM IST on the day prior to the journey. Meanwhile, for non-AC classes, such as Sleeper Class (SL), and Second Seating (2S), the bookings for Tatkal open an hour later, at 11:00 AM IST.

Importantly, IRCTC confirmed that Tatkal bookings are available for all travel classes except First AC (1A), where the facility is not applicable.

This clarification reassures travellers that no recent changes have been made to the Tatkal ticket booking process, contrary to several misleading claims circulating on social media.

How to Book Tatkal Railway Tickets online Through IRCTC?

Below is the step-by-step guide to book railway Tatkal tickets online through the IRCTC app or website:

• Visit the IRCTC website or open the IRCTC app. Log in with your username and password before Tatkal booking opens (preferably a few minutes early).
• Enter your departure station, destination, journey date, and choose the train you want to travel on.
• While selecting the train, opt for the Tatkal booking option from the quota dropdown menu.
• Check seat availability under the Tatkal quota for your desired train and class, AC or Non-AC.
• Enter passenger details like name, age, gender, and ID proof type (e.g., Aadhaar, Passport).
• Save frequent traveller details beforehand to save time.
• Complete the payment quickly using net banking, UPI, credit card, or debit card. Faster payment options are recommended to avoid losing the booking.
• Once payment is successful, your Tatkal ticket will be booked.
• You can download the ticket or take a printout.

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Book a Tatkal Ticket from Counter in Railway Station

Passengers can also book Tatkal tickets directly at railway reservation counters. To book a counter Tatkal ticket, travellers must fill out a requisition form with their journey and personal details. Tatkal booking at counters follows the same timing as online booking - 10:00 AM for AC classes and 11:00 AM for non-AC classes, one day prior to the journey date. It is important to carry a valid government-issued photo ID while booking, as it is mandatory for Tatkal reservations.

Tatkal Railway Tickets Charges

Tatkal charges extra for each passenger in addition to the regular ticket. As a percentage of the fare, the Tatkal costs are set at 10% of the base fare for the second class and 30% of the basic fare for all other classes, subject to minimum and maximum fees.

Can You Claim Refund After Cancelling Tatkal Ticket?

A confirmed Tatkal ticket cannot be cancelled for a refund. However, fees are deducted in accordance with current railway regulations for conditional cancellations and waitlisted Tatkal ticket cancellations.