Struggling with Tatkal Ticket Booking on IRCTC? Here’s What You Can Do for Confirmed Ticket.

What Is the Tatkal Scheme?

Tatkal is a last-minute reservation facility offered by Indian Railways. You can book these tickets through the IRCTC website /app or at PRS counters (Passenger Reservation System counters), usually at a higher price. Only a limited number of Tatkal seats are available per train.

Booking a Tatkal Ticket

Nowadays, booking a Tatkal ticket on the IRCTC website has become a frustrating and pathetic experience for many passengers. If you are a frequent train traveler and tried to book Tatkal tickets you may have faced a similar experience.

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If you log in at 9:55 AM, you may see seats available. But as the clock hits 10:00 AM (for AC classes) or 11:00 AM (for non-AC classes), the IRCTC site often becomes unresponsive. You may stuck on the seat availability page or on the payment page and the site crashes. By the time it recovers, all tickets are waitlisted, and you are left with only one option: Premium Tatkal, which is significantly more expensive as the prices are dynamic.

IRCTC Ticket Booking During Website/App Downtime

If the IRCTC site or app is down, you can still book your tickets through the PRS counter at railway stations. The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) is a computerized network that allows offline ticket booking and cancellation.

Current Timings for Tatkal E-Ticket Booking

• AC Classes (2A, 3A, CC, EC, 3E): Booking opens at 10:00 AM (1 day before travel).
• Non-AC Classes (SL, FC, 2S): Booking opens at 11:00 AM (1 day before travel).

Note: Tatkal booking is not available for First AC (1A).

Tatkal Charges

• Second Class (2S): 10% of the base fare.
• Other Classes: 30% of the base fare.
• Charges are subject to minimum and maximum limits defined by Indian Railways.

Tatkal Ticket Cancellation Policy

If your Tatkal ticket is waitlisted, cancellation charges apply as per standard railway rules.

No refund is provided if a confirmed Tatkal ticket is canceled.

How to Increase Your Chances of Booking a Tatkal Ticket

Here are a few steps to follow:

Step 1: Pre-fill Passenger Details

Use Chrome or Edge autofill to save time. Make sure your IRCTC profile is updated with passenger details.

Step 2: Use a Desktop/Laptop

Avoid mobile apps during rush hours. Low-cost smartphones and unstable networks add unnecessary traffic and delays.

Step 3: Login Just Before Booking Time

Stay logged out until 3 minutes before booking opens:

• For AC classes: Log in at 09:57:00
• For Non-AC classes: Log in at 10:57:00

Step 4: Choose “Premium Tatkal” Instead

Instead of regular Tatkal, try booking under the Premium Tatkal category.

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• Premium Tatkal uses dynamic pricing like airlines. If demand is low, fares may be close to regular Tatkal.
• Since most people rush for regular Tatkal, Premium Tatkal sees less congestion, giving you a better chance of booking.
• In many cases, the price difference between regular and Premium Tatkal is just ₹100–₹300, which might be worth it for confirmed travel plans.

Final Thoughts

Booking Tatkal tickets is no longer just about typing speed—it’s about the strategy you follow. The IRCTC system overloads and crashes during the peak times and using alternative approaches like Premium Tatkal and PRS counters can increase your chances. With a bit of planning and these smart hacks, you can still secure your berths. Another better option is to try booking through the IRCTC mobile app instead of the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: The details shared are solely gathered from publicly available information and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Finostry. . While we've done our best to provide accurate information, this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.