How Many Days in Advance can You Book Train Tickets?

A: Advance Reservation Period for booking train tickets is 120 days (excluding the date of journey). So, booking in trains from train originating stations will open and remain available for 120 days.

IRCTC Train Types

The Indian Railways is one of the most popular modes of transportation connecting different cities, towns, and capitals in the country. IRCTC offers train ticket bookings for these trains that include high-speed, fully air-conditioned, long-distance, daily, economy class, seasonal, special and mountain train services.

The different train types under the scope of the IRCTC are: Tejas Express, Vande Bharat Express, Shatabdi Express, Gatimaan Express, Rajdhani Express, Duronto Express, Humsafar Express, AC Express, Double Decker Express, UDAY Express, Garib Rath Express, Yuva Express, Jan Shatabdi Express, Sampark Kranti Express, Kavi Guru Express, Vivek Express, Rajya Rani Express, Mahamana Express, Intercity Express, Antyodaya Express, Jan Sadharan Express, Suvidha Express, Superfast Express, Express, Passenger, Mail, Suburban, Mountain Railways and Luxury Trains.

Q. What are the new IRCTC ticket booking guidelines as of 12th March 2021?

A: The Railways has resumed several festival special and special IRCTC trains in a graded manner for passengers from 1st June, 2020. Train ticket bookings have been open since 21st May, 2020. Along with this, unreserved express trains have also been restarted on several routes. The new guidelines issued by the Railways about train ticket bookings are as follows:

• E-Ticketing will be done through the IRCTC website or mobile app.
• RAC and Waitlisted tickets will be issued alongside confirmed tickets.
• Only passengers with confirmed and RAC tickets will be allowed to board the train.
• No tickets will be issued on board.
• Advance Reservation Period (ARP) has been increased to 120 days for a few trains.

Q. What are the new IRCTC rules for passengers from 12th March 2021?

A: In light of COVID-19, the IRCTC has issued some new rules and safety precautions for passengers travelling on trains. These rules state that:

• Only passengers with confirmed and RAC tickets will be allowed to board the train.
• Face masks are mandatory for all passengers.
• Passengers have to reach the railway station at least 90 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train.
• Social distancing is mandatory at the station and also on the train.
• On arrival, passengers will have to follow the health protocols recommended by the destination state.

Q) What are the Cancellation Charges for Train Tickets?

A: To get refunds on cancellation of train tickets, passengers should cancel their tickets before chart preparation. If a confirmed train ticket is cancelled more than 48 hrs prior to the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charges will be Rs.240/- for AC First Class/Executive Class, Rs.200/- for AC 2 Tier/First Class, Rs. 180 for AC 3 Tier/AC Chair car/ AC 3 Economy, Rs.120/- for Sleeper Class and Rs.60/- for Second Class. These cancellation charges are applicable per ticket per passenger and same will be deducted before processing the refunds. If a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 and 12 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charges will be 25% of the fare (subject to the above mentioned minimum flat rate). Between 12 hours and 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train up to chart preparation (whichever is earlier), 50% of the fare paid subject to the minimum cancellation charges.

Q) How can I Book Train Tickets in Tatkal Quota?

A: Tatkal ticket reservation is a facility that allows the passengers taking a train journey on a short notice.

Tatkal quota opens one day advance excluding the date of journey from the originating station of the train.

Tatkal Train Ticket Booking Timings are:

AC Class - 10:15 AM

Sleeper Class - 11:15 AM

You have to opt for Tatkal quota to book tatkal tickets.

What are the RAC, GNWL, PQWL, RLWL and TQWL in Railway Reservation?

A: All of the above except RAC are the types of waiting list available with train booking. WL with a number suggests the waitlisted status of a passenger.

RAC means Reservation against Cancellation. If you have an RAC ticket, then your travel with a train is guaranteed but you will be given a seat (half of a side lower berth mostly) to sit and travel not an entire berth.

GNWL General Waiting List waitlisted tickets are issued to the passenger who begins his/her journey from the originating station of a route or stations closer to the originating station.

PQWL Pooled Quota Waiting List is shared by several small stations of a train route. The quota generally operates from the originating station of a train route and only one Pooled Quota is there for entire run.

The Pooled Quota is usually selected for the passengers travelling from the originating station to one or few stations short of the terminating station, or from a midway station to the terminating station, or between two stations coming midway of the entire route.

RLWL Remote Location Waiting List ticket is issued for the stations between the originating and terminating stations. Usually these are important towns or cities of that particular route. These tickets are given a separate priority and their confirmations will depend on the cancellations of a confirmed ticket.

Remote location stations prepare their own chart 2-3 hours prior to the actual departure of train. There are less chances of confirmation for such waitlisted tickets.

TQWL Tatkal Quota Waiting List was earlier CKWL. It is the waiting list tickets booked under Tatkal Quota. TQWL tickets directly get confirm and don’t go through RAC. However, GNWL is given priority over TQWL.

Q) What is Premium Tatkal?

A: Premium Tatkal is a new quota introduced by railway to book online train tickets. Under this quota, dynamic fares are applicable. Premium Tatkal fare increases following the number of bookings. Booking Premium Tatkal (PT) ticket is much costlier than Tatkal because of the dynamic fare pricing. In this case, train ticket prices depend on the booking rates and availability of seats.

Q) How can I Cancel Tatkal Tickets?

A: On cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets, no refund is given. On the cancellation of contingent and waitlisted Tatkal tickets, amount will be charged as per the existing rules of Railway. However, you can partially cancel the Tatkal e-tickets.

Q) What are the Cancellation Charges for Train Tickets?

A: To get refunds on cancellation of train tickets, passengers should cancel their tickets before chart preparation. If a confirmed train ticket is cancelled more than 48 hrs prior to the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charges will be Rs.240/- for AC First Class/Executive Class, Rs.200/- for AC 2 Tier/First Class, Rs. 180 for AC 3 Tier/AC Chair car/ AC 3 Economy, Rs.120/- for Sleeper Class and Rs.60/- for Second Class. These cancellation charges are applicable per ticket per passenger and same will be deducted before processing the refunds. If a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 and 12 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charges will be 25% of the fare (subject to the above mentioned minimum flat rate). Between 12 hours and 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure of the train up to chart preparation (whichever is earlier), 50% of the fare paid subject to the minimum cancellation charges.