Railways Offers Current Booking Facility for Last-Minute Train Travel
Passengers can book available seats up to 30 minutes before departure through IRCTC or station counters.
Hyderabad: Missed your scheduled train or couldn’t make a reservation in advance? There’s no need to worry anymore. Indian Railways has introduced the Current Booking / Current Availability facility to help passengers secure seats at the last minute, provided seats are available.
Under this system, passengers can book tickets from four hours before the train’s departure until the final chart is prepared, which is usually 30 minutes before departure.
How to book:
Online: Tickets can be booked through the IRCTC website or mobile app as e-tickets.
Offline: Passengers can approach Current Reservation Counters at railway stations.
How to check availability:
While checking seat availability, if the status shows “Current Available,” it means the seat is open for current booking. Passengers can check this by selecting the regular booking date.
Fare details:
Only the normal ticket fare applies; no Tatkal charges are levied.
The facility is available across all classes, including AC and Sleeper, making it convenient for passengers planning sudden or emergency travel.