Booking a Tatkal train ticket at reservation counters is about to get significantly more convenient, with West Central Railway rolling out a new token-based system aimed at cutting down long queues and speeding up the process. The change takes effect from August 1, 2026, with railway officials describing it as a step toward making counter bookings more organised and transparent for passengers.
Under the current system, passengers often face hours of waiting at Tatkal counters before bookings even begin. The revised approach allows travellers to collect a token during a designated time slot and return later at their assigned time to complete the booking, reducing overcrowding and cutting down on wasted waiting time.
Token distribution will follow the existing Tatkal booking schedule, with AC ticket tokens issued between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, and non-AC tokens made available shortly after, from 9:00 am to 9:30 am. Once a passenger receives a token, they can finish their booking in a single visit rather than standing in repeated queues.
Each counter will initially issue a limited number of tokens, with slightly more allotted for non-AC bookings than AC ones. However, railway officials noted that these numbers are not fixed and may be adjusted based on local demand. Any Tatkal seats still available after token holders are served will be opened up to other passengers on a first-come, first-served basis.
The new system also builds in a priority mechanism for those booking on behalf of family members. Tokens will be split into two categories, one reserved specifically for family bookings and another for general passengers, with those seeking priority required to present valid photo identification for both themselves and the travelling family member. Officials have also made clear that tokens cannot be transferred to another individual once issued.