Train reservations: After chart timing and Tatkal, railways announces another important change in ticketing process

Time of India

8 hours ago

The railway ministry has introduced another key change in the passenger ticketing process, following its recent updates to chart preparation and Tatkal bookings. A new circular issued on Tuesday outlines revised rules for handling special travel requests, aimed at streamlining operations and preventing last-minute delays. The railway ministry has revised the timing guidelines for submitting
emergency quota
(EQ) requests, following its recent change in reservation chart preparation timing to eight hours before a train's departure. As per a circular issued by the ministry on Tuesday, passengers seeking emergency quota in trains must now submit their request a day before the journey. This change applies to all trains.
Railway Reservation: Emergency Quota Request
"Emergency quota request for all the trains leaving between 0000 hours and 1400 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1200 hours on the previous day of journey," the circular said.
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"Emergency quota request for all the remaining trains leaving between 14.01 hours and 23.59 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1600 hours on the previous day of journey," it added.
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Requests received on the same day as the train's departure will not be accepted.
Train Reservation: Holiday guidance also updated
In case of Sundays or public holidays, the circular mentioned that requests for trains leaving on such days must be made on the previous working day.
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'The requests for the release of accommodation in trains, for which the emergency quota is to be released on Sundays or clubbed holidays after Sundays, should be given during office hours on the previous working day,' the circular stated.
High number of requests from officials
The railway ministry noted that the reservation cell of the Railway Board handles a large volume of EQ requests from VIPs, railway officers, senior officers, and other departments.
'All efforts are made to allot the quota judiciously and with common prudence,' the circular stated.
Officers advised to follow timings strictly
The ministry has asked all officers to strictly follow the revised timings so that train charts are not delayed.
'The allotments are given in time and chart preparation is not delayed, which not only results in extreme difficulties to the travelling public but can also lead to a delay in the departure of trains,' the ministry said.
Forwarding authorities have also been asked to verify the genuineness of each EQ request and comply with existing guidelines on allotment.
Indian Railways Revamps Ticket Booking System
Earlier this month, Indian Railways implmented major changes to its passenger reservation system to make train travel more comfortable for passengers. The changes include new rules for booking Tatkal tickets, earlier preparation of train charts for waitlisted passengers, and an overall upgrade to the reservation system.
Train Chart Preparation
Reservation charts are now prepared four hours before a train's departure. A new proposal suggests preparing these charts eight hours in advance. For trains leaving before 2:00 PM, charts will be finalized at 9:00 PM the previous day. The Railway Minister has approved this idea and wants it implemented gradually. This change will give passengers with waitlisted tickets more clarity and time to make alternative travel arrangements if needed.
Tatkal Ticket Booking
Starting July 1, 2025, only verified users are allowed to book Tatkal tickets through the
IRCTC
website and mobile app. Additionally, OTP-based authentication for Tatkal bookings will begin at the end of July. The Railway Minister has instructed officials to expand the authentication process for Tatkal reservations. Users will need to verify their identity using Aadhaar or other valid government IDs stored in their DigiLocker accounts.
New Passenger Reservation System
By December 2025, a new passenger reservation system will be in place. This upgrade, implemented by CRIS, will significantly increase ticket booking capabilities. The modern system will handle over 150,000 ticket reservations per minute, a fivefold increase from the current 32,000 tickets per minute. The system's enquiry processing ability will also increase tenfold, from 400,000 to over 4 million enquiries per minute. The upgraded system will have a user-friendly interface, support multiple languages, and allow users to specify seating preferences and view fare calendars. It will also include dedicated facilities for Divyangjan, students, patients, and other specific categories.
Clerkage Charges
Indian Railways
is considering removing or reducing "clerkage" charges, which are deducted from refunds for cancelled or unconfirmed waitlisted tickets. Currently, a clerkage charge of Rs 60 is applied to both AC and non-AC reserved tickets, while Rs 30 is charged for unreserved second-class tickets. This charge applies even to cancellations made through the IRCTC website. If implemented, this change would benefit passengers with waitlisted tickets.