Now a train journey has become easier for travelers as the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website has simplified checking of seat availability in various trains. It saves travelers the hassle of visiting railway stations and facing long queues.
To check the availability in desired train, travelers can log onto the official website www.irctc.co.in and fill the boarding and deboarding details first which will give them the option ‘check seat availability’. The option leads the user to a date-wise seat availability.
Check Availability for General and Reserved Seats
The users can book under general, reserve and tatkal tickets accordingly.
The reserved tickets fall under General Quota, Ladies Quota, Foreign Tourist Quota, Premium Tatkal Quota, Tatkal Quota, Senior Citizen Quota, and Physically Handicapped (Divyangjan) Quota.
If tickets unavailable for the desired dates and the traveler is in urgency, they can opt for the Tatkal tickets for which booking only opens 24 hours prior to the travel date.
The charges of tatkal tickets are 10 percent of basic fare and are 30 percent for the second class. Its booking for AC class opens at 10 am, while for non-AC classes it opens at 11 am. The price also depends on the minimum and maximum distance covered by the train and carries a no-refund policy upon cancellation. However, cancelling wait-listed tatkal tickets charges are deducted as per the existing Railway rules.
If a non-tatkal ticket is cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure of train Rs 240 is charged for AC First Class/Executive Class ticket.
25 percent of the ticket as cancellation charge is deducted if a confirmed ticket is cancelled within 48 to 12 hours before the scheduled departure.
A 50 percent deduction takes place when the ticket is cancelled less than 12 hours and upto four hours before the scheduled departure of the train up to chart preparation.
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