IRCTC Booking Date Calculator – When Does Train Ticket Booking Open?

Select Your Travel Date

Select a travel date above
We'll instantly calculate when your IRCTC booking opens and let you set a Google Calendar reminder in one click.

✈ Your Travel Date

Booking Opens On

Opening Time

8:00 AM IST

Day of Week

Tatkal Opens

Days Until Open

Add Reminder to Google Calendar

Opens Google Calendar with a pre-filled reminder at 7:45 AM on booking day

Tatkal Booking Times

AC Classes

10:00 AM

1A · 2A · 3A · CC

Non-AC Classes

11:00 AM

Sleeper · 2S

📌 Tatkal opens 1 day before journey. Be logged in 10 minutes early. Fares are higher and mostly non-refundable.

IRCTC Quick Reference

Advance Window	60 Days
Booking Opens At	8:00 AM IST
Tatkal AC Opens	10:00 AM IST
Tatkal Non-AC Opens	11:00 AM IST
Tatkal Window	1 Day Before
Max Passengers/PNR	6
Tatkal Max/Booking	4 Passengers
Monthly Ticket Limit	12 (or 24 verified)

Pro Tips for Fast Booking

Log in to IRCTC 10 minutes before 8:00 AM — servers get congested at opening time.
Add your card to IRCTC wallet in advance for one-click payment.
The IRCTC Rail Connect app is sometimes faster than the website during peak load.
Pre-save passenger details in your master list to avoid re-typing during booking.
For Tatkal, be ready at 9:50 AM (AC) or 10:50 AM (Non-AC).
Use a stable WiFi connection — mobile data drops can cause payment failures.
Use the Google Calendar reminder above so you never miss the opening time.

How to Book Tatkal Train Ticket on IRCTC – Step by Step

Log in to IRCTC Early

Open irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Rail Connect app. Log in by 9:50 AM for AC Tatkal or 10:50 AM for Non-AC Tatkal — 10 minutes before booking opens.

Search for Your Train

Enter source station, destination, and travel date. From the Quota dropdown, select TATKAL before searching.

Select Train and Class

Choose your train. Tatkal availability is displayed separately under each class. Click Book Now the moment the quota opens at 10:00 AM (AC) or 11:00 AM (Non-AC).

Fill Passenger Details Quickly

Enter name, age, gender, and berth preference. Use the Master Passenger List in IRCTC to auto-fill saved travellers and save critical seconds.

Pay Immediately

Use IRCTC wallet or a saved card for the fastest checkout. Avoid net banking during peak hours — it's slower. Complete payment before the 15-minute session expires.

Everything You Need to Know About IRCTC Train Booking

🗓 60-Day Advance Booking

IRCTC opens advance ticket reservation exactly 60 days before the journey date, excluding the journey date, at 8:00 AM IST. Use our calculator above to find your exact opening date.

⚡ What is Tatkal Quota?

Tatkal is an emergency reservation quota that opens 1 day before journey. AC classes open at 10:00 AM and Non-AC at 11:00 AM. Fares are higher and refunds are restricted.

💰 Tatkal Charges (Approx)

Sleeper: ₹100–₹200 · 3-Tier AC: ₹300–₹400 · 2-Tier AC: ₹400–₹500 · 1st AC: ₹400–₹500 per passenger, added to base fare.

🔄 Can I Cancel Tatkal Tickets?

Regular Tatkal tickets allow partial refund only if cancelled more than 24 hours before departure. Premium Tatkal tickets are fully non-refundable under any circumstances.

📊 Waitlisted Tickets

A waitlisted (WL) Tatkal ticket is automatically cancelled at chart preparation if not confirmed. Refund is provided for unconfirmed Tatkal WL tickets automatically by IRCTC.

🎫 Premium Tatkal vs Tatkal

Premium Tatkal uses dynamic pricing (fare rises as seats fill). It is fully non-refundable. Regular Tatkal has fixed extra charges. Premium Tatkal is available only on select trains.

Frequently Asked Questions – IRCTC Train Ticket Booking

How many days in advance can I book a train ticket on IRCTC?

Indian Railways (IRCTC) allows advance booking up to 60 days before the journey date, excluding the journey date itself. Booking opens at 8:00 AM IST on the 60th day. For example, to travel on 15 September, booking opens on 17 July at 8:00 AM IST. Use the calculator on this page to find your exact booking open date in seconds.

What time does IRCTC booking open for advance reservation?

IRCTC advance reservation booking opens every day at 8:00 AM IST — including Sundays and public holidays. Tickets for travel 60 days later become available at this exact time. It is strongly recommended to log in at least 10 minutes early, as the IRCTC servers experience very high traffic at 8:00 AM.

What is Tatkal booking and what time does it open?

Tatkal is a last-minute reservation quota introduced by Indian Railways allowing passengers to book tickets just one day before the journey at a higher fare. Timings are:

AC classes (1A, 2A, 3A, CC, 3E): 10:00 AM IST, one day before journey
Non-AC classes (Sleeper/SL, 2nd Sitting/2S): 11:00 AM IST, one day before journey

Can I book IRCTC tickets on Sundays and public holidays?

Yes. IRCTC booking opens every single day at 8:00 AM IST, including Sundays, national holidays, and regional holidays. The 60-day advance booking window applies regardless of the day of the week. If your booking date falls on a holiday, you can still book at 8:00 AM that day.

How do I calculate my IRCTC booking open date?

Subtract 60 days from your travel date (not counting the travel date itself). For example, for travel on 10 October, count back 60 days to get 11 August — that is when booking opens at 8:00 AM IST. Our calculator at the top of this page does this automatically and even lets you add a Google Calendar reminder.

What is the Tatkal charge on Indian Railways?

Tatkal charges are fixed amounts added to the base fare per passenger. Approximate charges:

Sleeper (SL): ₹100 – ₹200
3-Tier AC (3A): ₹300 – ₹400
2-Tier AC (2A): ₹400 – ₹500
1st AC (1A): ₹400 – ₹500

What is the difference between Tatkal and Premium Tatkal?

Tatkal has fixed extra charges added to the base fare and allows partial refunds in some circumstances. Premium Tatkal uses dynamic pricing (fares increase as seats are booked, similar to airline pricing) and is completely non-refundable. Premium Tatkal is available on select trains and classes only.

How many passengers can I book in one IRCTC ticket?

You can book a maximum of 6 passengers per PNR in a single IRCTC transaction. The monthly booking limit for a standard account is 12 tickets, which increases to 24 tickets for Aadhaar-verified accounts. For Tatkal quota, the maximum is 4 passengers per booking.

Can I get a refund on a Tatkal ticket if I cancel it?

Regular Tatkal tickets allow a partial refund only if cancelled more than 24 hours before departure. If cancelled within 24 hours or after chart preparation, no refund is given except for waitlisted tickets that are not confirmed. Premium Tatkal tickets are entirely non-refundable under all circumstances.

What should I do if the IRCTC website is down at 8 AM?

IRCTC servers often slow down at 8:00 AM due to heavy traffic. Try these alternatives: (1) Use the IRCTC Rail Connect app on your phone — it sometimes responds faster. (2) Try booking via authorised agents like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, or Paytm which are connected to IRCTC. (3) Keep refreshing — bookings remain open all day, not just at 8:00 AM sharp.