Major Change in Tatkal Ticket Booking...Token System Now Mandatory

Indian Railways has introduced a new Token System for Tatkal ticket bookings to reduce overcrowding and prevent the influence of ticket touts at reservation counters. The new system will come into effect from August 1, 2026, initially at reservation counters under the West Central Railway's Kota Division. While Tatkal booking timings remain unchanged, passengers will now be required to obtain tokens before approaching the reservation counters.

Under the new rules, AC class passengers can collect tokens between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM, with a maximum of 10 tokens per counter, while Non-AC passengers can collect tokens between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM, with 15 tokens per counter. Priority will be given to passengers booking tickets for themselves or their family members under Category A, while others will be served under Category B. The token will contain the passenger's details and cannot be transferred. Additionally, Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for online Tatkal bookings through the IRCTC website and app.