Northern India is reeling under dense fog and cold weather conditions. While advisories suggest that people remain indoors, travel for urgent work is still unavoidable. Many people book train tickets under the Tatkal train booking system of the IRCTC. While this is convenient, it still requires constant follow-up on the part of the passenger to avoid last-minute surprises. One of these is the live train running status check.
Here’s all you need to know about how to cancel/book train tickets in Tatkal:
Book Train Tickets In Tatkal
Tatkal is an immediate way to book train tickets. While it caters to the needs of passengers looking for travel options on short notice, they must book the tickets according to the IRCTC rules. A passenger can book four tickets per PNR under the Tatkal option. The Tatkal booking window opens for AC classes and non-AC classes at 10 AM and 11 AM, 24 hours before the train journey, respectively.
Confirmed Tatkal Ticket
The train ticket booking under the Tatkal scheme issues tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis. So, the passengers who book train tickets immediately after the opening of the Tatkal booking window get the confirmed tickets. The tickets booked later in the day are not always confirmed.
Cancel Tatkal Ticket
If a confirmed Tatkal ticket is canceled, no refund is issued for the same. But if a Tatkal ticket in the TQWL status is canceled, a cancellation charge of Rs 60 per ticket is levied, and the balance is refunded.
The TQWL tickets can be canceled only up to 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure. Also, the ticket payout’s non-refundable (convenience fee) portion is not refunded to the passenger by railways under any circumstances.
Ticket Cancellation If The Train Is Late
According to the weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the states of northern India are likely to witness very dense fog, which is likely to affect public transport. While the Indian Railways provides a full refund for tickets canceled due to trains running late, passengers must complete the requisite formalities to claim the refund.
Conditions under which a full refund is issued include:
Check Refund Eligibility
Not all train tickets booked under the Tatkal scheme are eligible for a refund. To determine if your ticket is eligible for a refund, perform a live train running status check to track the current location of the train on a real-time basis. Trains running late by more than three hours allow a full refund of the ticket amount.
In the case of tickets booked at the ticket counter, the tickets will be canceled through the reservation counter. On the other hand, if you book train tickets online through IRCTC or any other IRCTC-authorized booking portal, visit the respective website to initiate the ticket cancellation process.
In case of tickets booked at the reservation counter, the ticket is to be surrendered at the commencing station. Get a full refund of the ticket amount in cash at the counter.
For online ticket booking, a request for a TDR is to be initiated on the online portal. TDR or a ticket deposit receipt is a document or token raised for applying for a refund for a canceled ticket. To file for a TDR, log into the IRCTC website and follow the following steps:
- Go to the ‘services’ section of the book train tickets page.
- From the menu, click on the ‘File Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR)’ link.
- Enter the PNR number and click on the ‘File TDR’ link.
It is important to note that a refund is not initiated in case the TDR is not filed for an online ticket booking. The e-ticket refund takes up to 90 days to process.
Also, the TDR must be filed online before the actual departure of the train, and all passengers booked on a single PNR must not have traveled.
Conclusion
The Tatkal ticket booking system is an excellent help for passengers looking to book train tickets for last-minute travel plans. However, the passengers must be aware of the rules and regulations guiding tatkal ticket reservations, as cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets is not eligible for any refund. However, if the live train running status check shows that the train is running late by at least three hours, ticket holders will get a full refund after adhering to specific guidelines. By staying informed and understanding the Tatkal ticket refund eligibility criteria, travelers can make the best of their travel plans.
FAQs
Where can I request a refund for the train ticket?
The request for a refund of a train ticket can be placed on the official IRCTC website or at any reservation counter of the boarding station. Passengers who book train tickets online through IRCTC-authorized ticket booking portals can also apply for a refund through the respective websites. To get the refund, log into the website using the same booking account name on the IRCTC portal through which the train ticket is booked.
Is a full refund issued for all trains?
If a live train running status check shows that the train is running at least three hours behind schedule, a full refund is issued as per the regulations.
Is the convenience fee refundable for train ticket cancellation?
The convenience fee is a non-refundable component. The refund amount is calculated after deducting the convenience fee amount.
What are Tatkal ticket charges?
If you want to book train tickets under the Tatkal scheme, the charges applicable are over and above the regular ticket rate. The Tatkal charges are 10% of the base fare for second-class travel and 30% of the base fare for all other classes. These are subject to a minimum and maximum rate as mentioned in the train ticket booking schedule.
What is the IRCTC customer care number?
To report a grievance or to seek travel-related support, passengers can write to [email protected]. The customer support helpline numbers for 24/7 support are 0755-3934141, 0755-661066.