Tatkal train tickets booking: How to book Tatkal train tickets online via IRCTC website, app, MakeMyTrip, and PayTM

There may have been occasions when you needed to travel “immediately” or perhaps the next day. There is a high chance that you may not find a seat or berth vacant on any train to your destination. Not all cities and mufassil have airports, and air travel is quite expensive. It was for situations like these that the Indian Railways introduced the “Tatkal” (means immediate) booking scheme in 1997, with some changes made in 2015. Tatkal booking can be made for all travel classes. 

To avail online booking facility, you will need to register yourself on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website. IRCTC is a public sector undertaking that provides ticketing, catering, and tourism services for the Indian Railways. Once registered, you will be assigned an IRCTC User ID and a Password. Your account will be linked to your mobile number and email address. When logging in later, do not be alarmed if you misplace the details. The website offers you a way to retrieve the data through the linked email address and phone number. 

You can also download the IRCTC Rail Connect app for booking tickets online. Then there are a few third-party services, like MakeMyTrip and PayTM, that have partnered with IRCTC, which also help you book Tatkal tickets.

Let us now go through the options and the process in detail

Tatkal ticket booking opening time

Tatkal E-ticket can be booked for selected trains one day before the date of the journey. Such reservation can be made from 10 AM for air-conditioned (AC) classes, i.e., 2A/3A/CC/EC/3E. For non-AC (SL/FC/2S) coaches, the time is 11 AM. For example, if the train is to depart from the originating station on January 2, Tatkal Booking will commence at 10 AM and 11 AM, respectively, for AC and non-AC class on January 1.

IRCTC charges for Tatkal ticket booking

You will have to pay Tatkal charges per passenger over the price of a regular ticket. It has been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class and 30% of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum.

How to book Tatkal train tickets via the IRCTC website

Once you are registered on the IRCTC website, you can book any ticket for your rail travel. Let us take a look at how to book a Tatkal ticket on IRCTC.

1. Open the home page of irctc.co.in and log in by entering your User Name and Password
2. Mention the stations you want to travel From and To, and proceed to select the date of the journey
3. Select Tatkal in the category section when a dropdown appears (other options are General, Ladies, etc.)
4. Now a page will appear with Train List
5. In case you had not chosen Tatkal earlier, you can do so here by selecting Quota as Tatkal by clicking on the radio button
6. Find the train that you prefer to travel in and click on the class in the train list. It will now show the details with the availability
7. Click on Book Now. You will find this link under the availability option
8. In case you are not happy with the current train selection and wish to select any other train, click on another train/class link
9. Now, when the Ticket Reservation page appears, ensure that the train, names of from and to stations, the Date of journey, Class, Quota, Boarding Point, etc., displayed are all as you want
10. Enter the name(s) of passenger(s), age, sex, and berth preference. The maximum length of names should be restricted to 15 characters
11.  Click on ‘Consider for Auto Upgradation for automatic class upgradation after charting
12.  Enter the Captcha as shown on the screen
13.  Enter the passenger’s mobile number to receive booking and cancellation SMS
14.  Click on the Next button. The Payment page will now open
15.  Click on your preferred payment option and pay
16.  Once your payment is successful, the ticket confirmation details are exhibited along with a Print Electronic Reservation Slip (ERS) option. If you require a printed ERS, click the button

How to book Tatkal train tickets via the IRCTC app

The official IRCTC app can be downloaded on either Android or iOS operating systems. The app offers a Google Talk feature that makes it easier for visually impaired persons to operate it. Also, IRCTC’s e-wallet feature is integrated for quicker and easier transactions. You can book and view tickets, view train details, fares, etc., with the help of this app. 

Once you are registered with your mobile number on the IRCTC website, you can use the app on your mobile phone. You can start booking railway tickets through your IRCTC mobile and pay through a credit card or cash card.

1. Open the IRCTC Rail connect app on your mobile phone
2. Click on the Train icon
3. On the new screen that opens, tap on “Book Ticket”
4. Enter city or city code in the From and To fields
5. Select Class
6. Tap on quota and select the Tatkal option
7. Click on Search Trains. Now, the train and the class you desire to travel on
8. Check the fare as shown at the bottom left corner and then fill in passenger details
9. If you already have added names of passengers, check boxes against passenger names and select Add to Ticket
10.  Enter the credit card details or cash card account number and select Continue from Options
11.  Provide CVV or cash card PIN and go to Next
12.  Select Book Now
13.  An ‘Internet ticket’ with itinerary details is displayed and stored on the IRCTC app

How to book Tatkal train tickets via MakeMyTrip

The travel website MakeMyTrip is among some third-party services that have a partnership with IRCTC. The page facilitates booking Tatkal tickets. However, you need to be a registered user with IRCTC and possess valid USER ID and Password. To book a tatkal ticket from this travel website, you need to log in to your IRCTC account from the MakeMyTrip Railways page.

1. Login to your IRCTC account at https://www.makemytrip.com/railways/
2. Select the name of the stations you wish to travel From and To
3. Choose the date of your journey
4. Select quota as Tatkal and search for trains
5. Click on Book Now for the train you intend to travel
6. Fill in passenger details, including Name, Age, Gender, Seat Preference, etc.
7. Select a suitable payment method from internet banking, payment wallet, credit or debit card, or UPI
8. Pay for the ticket
9. You can now print your e-ticket

How to book Tatkal train tickets via PayTM

You may book your Tatkal ticket through Paytm too. Just follow the following steps.

1. Login to Paytm account
2. Enter the names of your originating and destination stations
3. Select the date you wish to travel
4. Select the train that suits your requirement
5. Select the quota as Tatkal. Click on the Book button
6. Provide details of the passenger(s)
7. Select the preferred berth, if any, for your travel
8. Choose internet banking, payment wallet, credit or debit card at the payment gateway
9. Pay as per your choice
10. Print your e-ticket

FAQs

1. How can I book a Tatkal ticket directly?

You may book a Tatkal ticket either at Indian Railways counters designated for Tatkal booking or online. The tickets under the quota are available on IRCTC as well as its partner websites for web booking.

2. At what time Tatkal ticket can be booked?

Tatkal tickets can be booked a day earlier, beginning at 10 AM for AC and 11 AM for non-AC class, respectively. Booking closes when the final chart is prepared to depict the final reservation status for scheduled trains.

3. Can we book Tatkal tickets online?

Tatkal tickets can be booked online for all scheduled trains. To book these tickets, you can head over to the IRCTC website or app and follow the steps mentioned above. Some IRCTC partner sites also allow users to book Tatkal tickets. We have covered steps to book these tickets via Paytm and MakeMyTrip, but there are other partner sites that allow Taktal booking and you can choose whichever you prefer. 

4. Can I book a Tatkal ticket 12 hours before?

Tatkal tickets can be booked till seats are allotted, and the final reservation chart has been prepared a couple of hours before the departure of a train. 

5. What is Premium Tatkal?

Premium Tatkal (PT) Quota scheme was introduced in 2014 by the Indian Railways. Some seats are reserved for booking with dynamic fare pricing. This means passengers will be charged a higher price in case of increased demand and a lower price if the demand is less. The price usually increases closer to the scheduled departure of a train. 

According to IRCTC, the salient features of PT Quota booking are:

• Dynamic fare stands for the fare component which may be increased with the subsequent bookings
• Opening days booking is to be allowed on/after 10 AM
• The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of Premium Tatkal ticket booking is the same as Tatkal
• Agents are not allowed to book tickets under this quota
• There is no provision for RAC or Waitlist Ticket Booking
• No concessions (like senior citizens’) are applicable
• No refund is given to passengers in case of cancellation of a confirmed PT quota ticket
• All rules for tatkal quota booking over the internet are applicable to premium Tatkal quota

6. How many seats are available in Tatkal?

Zonal Railways is authorised to designate Tatkal accommodations in various classes. It is done after taking into account the availability of accommodations and the usage patterns in each class over the previous financial year.

However, the accommodation cannot exceed the maximum of 30% of the total capacity of the coach. This also depends on the utilisation of this quota during the last six-month period.

According to reports, out of the total potential of around 15.14 lakhs berths/seats per day on an average, around 3.05 lakh seats/berths are available for booking under the Tatkal or Premium Tatkal scheme every day; that is, approximately 20.16% of the total accommodation.

7. What if my Tatkal ticket is not confirmed?

Indian Railways guidelines stipulate that in case of cancellation of partially confirmed Tatkal tickets, a refund will be given only for waitlisted tatkal passengers. No refund shall be granted on confirmed Tatkal Tickets.

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