New Delhi: Booking Tatkal train tickets at railway reservation counters is set to become more organised from August 1, with Indian Railways introducing a new token-based system to reduce long queues, improve crowd management, and speed up the ticket booking process.
Introduced by the West Central Railway (WCR), the new system will allow passengers to collect a token during a designated time slot and return when their turn arrives, eliminating the need to stand in long queues for hours before Tatkal bookings open.
Designated Token Distribution Timings
Under the revised system, token distribution will be carried out in two phases:
- AC Tatkal bookings: Tokens will be issued between 8:30 am and 9:00 am.
- Non-AC Tatkal bookings: Tokens will be distributed between 9:00 am and 9:30 am.
Passengers will need to visit the reservation counter during the prescribed time to collect their token.
How the New Tatkal Token System Works
Instead of waiting in a queue, passengers will receive a token indicating their booking sequence. They can then return when their token number is called to complete the reservation process.
The tokens will be issued under two categories:
- Category A: Passengers booking Tatkal tickets for their family members.
- Category B: All other Tatkal bookings.
To obtain a Category A token, passengers must present their own valid photo identity proof along with the valid photo ID of the family member travelling.
Initially, each reservation counter will issue 10 AC Tatkal tokens and 15 Non-AC Tatkal tokens. Railway authorities may increase or reduce the number of tokens based on passenger demand and local booking patterns.
Non-Transferable Tokens
Railway officials have clarified that the issued tokens will be non-transferable and can only be used by the passenger to whom they are issued.
Once all token holders have completed their bookings, any remaining Tatkal seats will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Aim: Faster, Fairer and More Transparent Booking
According to railway officials, the token system is expected to significantly reduce overcrowding at reservation counters, shorten waiting times, and make the Tatkal booking process more transparent, orderly, and passenger-friendly.
The initiative is aimed at improving the overall reservation experience while ensuring smoother crowd management during the high-demand Tatkal booking window.
