The timings for booking Tatkal tickets in AC and non-AC classes have been changed from today. The timings for booking Tatkal tickets in AC and non-AC classes will change from June 15 as the Railways has staggered the schedule to reduce the load on the ticketing site and booking windows. At present, the booking under Tatkal scheme opens at 10:00 a.m. for all classes on the previous day of journey from train origination station.

Hence, now the reservation under Tatkal scheme will open at 10 AM on the previous day of journey from train originating station for AC classes whereas that for non-AC classes will start at 11 AM on the previous day of journey from train originating station.

The change has been effected to facilitate hassle-free booking by reducing the load on the server, the Press Trust of India said, quoting a senior Railway official. “Staggering the timing for AC and non-AC Tatkal tickets will help reducing load at windows and the ticketing sites,” he said.

In another change, all types of ticketing agents, including IRCTC agents, will now be debarred from booking tickets for 30 minutes from the opening of bookings – from 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. for general bookings, from 10 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. for Tatkal AC classes, and from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. for Tatkal non-AC classes, the Railways said in a statement.

The Railways is also planning to refund a percentage of fare on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets. At present, no such facility is available.