Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has a feature using which you can book a ‘current ticket’ on its app and website after the chart is prepared by the India Railways. The railways usually open train ticket bookings three months prior to the scheduled departure date. Then, Tatkal quota ticket booking opens one day before the train’s scheduled departure date.
If you miss both normal and Tatkal tickets, then you can try the current ticket system. According to the IRCTC website, “Current Booking is booking against vacant accommodation after charting.”
How to book a current ticket on the IRCTC app
Open the IRCTC app. Log in using your credentials and then follow the given steps mentioned below:
Step 1: Click on the ‘Train’ button and type your destination and source station.
Step 2: Since this is a current ticket booking, the date of departure must be on the day you are booking the ticket. For example, today is October 12, 2024, so the departure date is the same. Once the source, destinations and departure dates are selected, click on the ‘SEARCH TRAINS’ button.
IRCTC Rail Connect- Howrah to Ghatsila
Source: IRCTC Android AppStep 3: The list of all available trains on the selected route comes will appear on the screen. Click on your preferred class of ticket-CC, EC, 3AC, 3E, and so on. If there is a current ticket available for the selected train, then it will show as ‘CURR_AVBL-’ (see the screenshots). ET Wealth Online has checked current ticket features on various routes and stations. The chances of getting a current ticket are higher on less frequented routes than on routes with heavy passenger demand.
IRCTC Rail Connect
Source: IRCTC Android Android App
IRCTC Android App- Delhi to Jaipur
Source: IRCTC Android Android App
“Current Booking is allowed for all types of users (normal and agent). Only E-Ticket booking is allowed. Only Confirmed tickets shall be booked during current booking. Only senior citizens and disabled concession shall be allowed. Boarding point change is not allowed for current booking PNR. Name/age/gender change is not allowed for current booking PNR. Booking in premium & Suvidha trains will be allowed with the last booking fare,” said IRCTC on its website.
Different types of Indian Railways train tickets and when to book them
According to the IRCTC website here are some of the popular quotas for train ticket booking:
Normal: “The maximum number of days in advance that you can book a train ticket through IRCTC is 120 days, excluding the day of departure.”
Tatkal: “Tatkal e-ticket can be booked for selected trains one day in advance excluding the date of journey from the train originating station. It can be booked on the opening day from 10:00 hrs for AC class (2A/3A/CC/EC/3E) and at 11:00 hrs for non-AC class(SL/FC/2S). e.g. If the train is to depart from the originating station on 2nd August, Tatkal booking will commence at 10:00 AM and for non-AC class will commence at 11:00 AM on 1st August.”
Current: “Current booking is allowed after charting within the existing booking time limit specified by Railways.” Usually, charts are prepared about four hours before the train’s scheduled departure time.