Couldn't get a Tatkal ticket? Here’s how to get a confirmed seat without extra charges

Train Ticket: There is no need to worry if you couldn't secure a Tatkal ticket. Let’s find out how to book confirmed tickets for seats that remain vacant after the reservation chart is prepared, using the Railways' 'Current Booking' facility.

Train Ticket Booking: If you are planning a train journey and failed to get a Tatkal ticket, there is no need to panic. With the help of a specific railway service, you can secure a confirmed seat from the remaining vacancies. This service is known as 'Current Booking'.

Often, all seats on a train get filled up as soon as Tatkal booking opens, leaving travelers unable to get a ticket. However, some seats may still remain vacant after the reservation chart is prepared. The Railways offers travelers the opportunity to book these vacant seats through the Current Booking facility.

How do you get a seat after the chart is prepared?

The best feature of this service is that it offers only confirmed seats. This means if a seat is vacant after the chart is prepared, you can book a ticket for it; waitlisted tickets are not issued under this facility.

Where can you check for seats?

If you missed out on a Tatkal ticket, make sure to check for seat availability after the reservation chart is prepared. You can do this by visiting the railway's ticket booking website or mobile app and entering your train and travel details. If a seat appears vacant, it can be booked.

When do seats become vacant?

Suppose you tried to book a Tatkal ticket but found all seats full. Later, when the train's reservation chart was prepared, a traveler might have cancelled their ticket, or a seat might have remained unbooked. In such a scenario, that vacant seat can be booked via the Current Booking facility.

Beneficial for last-minute travelers

This service is extremely useful for those who need to travel at the last minute. However, securing a ticket depends entirely on seat availability; it is not guaranteed that a seat will be vacant on every train after the chart is prepared.

So, if you didn't get a Tatkal ticket, don't lose hope. After the chart is prepared, be sure to check once again whether a train seat is available. If a seat is available, you can immediately book it to secure a confirmed seat and travel on the train.