Major Change in Tatkal Ticket Booking: No More Two Trips to Reservation Centre, New Rule Effective from August 1

News:
In a major relief for Tatkal ticket passengers, West Central Railway has decided to implement a new token system for Tatkal ticket booking. The new arrangement will come into effect from August 1, 2026, at all reservation centres under West Central Railway, including the Jabalpur Division. Under the revised system, passengers will no longer need to visit the reservation centre twice—once to collect a token and again to book their ticket.
According to the new schedule, tokens for AC Tatkal tickets will be issued between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., while tokens for Sleeper (Non-AC) Tatkal tickets will be distributed between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Booking for AC Tatkal tickets will begin at 10:00 a.m., and Sleeper Tatkal ticket booking will start at 11:00 a.m.
Initially, each reservation counter will issue 10 tokens for AC and 15 tokens for Sleeper bookings. The number of tokens may be increased depending on demand. Passengers must present an Aadhaar card or any other valid photo identity proof to obtain a token, and all details will be recorded in the reservation register.
The Railway administration has stated that passengers booking Tatkal tickets for themselves or their family members will receive priority. The tokens will be strictly non-transferable, and only the person in whose name the token is issued will be allowed to book the ticket.
According to West Central Railway, the new system is expected to save passengers’ time, reduce crowding at reservation centres, and effectively curb touts and the illegal sale or transfer of tokens.