Tatkal charge calculator

The Tatkal charge is a percentage of the basic fare, 10 percent in second sitting and 30 percent in every other class, with a minimum and a maximum per class. The basic fare is the distance fare before reservation fee, superfast charge and GST.

The published table also sets a minimum distance per class: the charge is calculated as if the trip were at least 100 km in second sitting, 250 km in chair car and executive chair car, and 500 km in sleeper, AC 3 tier and AC 2 tier. A 150 km sleeper trip is charged as a 500 km one. In practice the floor and the cap decide most cases: sleeper is always between ₹100 and ₹200, AC 3 tier between ₹300 and ₹400, AC 2 tier and executive chair car between ₹400 and ₹500, and chair car between ₹125 and ₹225.

First AC (1A) has no Tatkal quota, according to IRCTC's Tatkal FAQ. One answer in that FAQ also leaves out Executive class (EC), while its timing and charge answers include EC, so check the class list on the IRCTC screen if you want EC. Premium Tatkal, offered on a subset of trains, uses dynamic pricing instead of this table and the fare on the IRCTC screen is the only reliable figure for it.

Delhi to Lucknow, about 500 km, sleeper, basic fare ₹340. Thirty percent is ₹102, which is inside the ₹100 to ₹200 band, so the Tatkal charge is ₹102 and the ticket costs ₹442 plus the usual fees.

Mumbai to Goa, about 580 km, AC 3 tier, basic fare ₹1,120. Thirty percent is ₹336, inside ₹300 to ₹400, so ₹336 extra. Mumbai to Delhi on a Rajdhani in AC 2 tier, basic fare around ₹2,900: 30 percent would be ₹870 but the cap is ₹500, so the charge is ₹500.

Short trips hit the floor. A 90 km chair car ride with a ₹180 basic fare would be ₹54 at 30 percent, but the minimum for chair car is ₹125, so you pay ₹125. On short routes Tatkal can add 70 percent to the ticket.

Pay it when the general quota is already waitlisted and the trip cannot move. Do not pay it to "be safe" on a date that is still inside the 60 day window with berths available; the general ticket is cheaper and refundable. The 60 days calculator tells you whether the general window is open.

Remember the refund rule before paying: a confirmed Tatkal ticket is not refunded on cancellation (IRCTC e-ticket cancellation rules). The premium plus the whole fare is at risk if your plan changes. A waitlisted Tatkal ticket cancelled before the chart loses only the ₹60 clerkage, which makes a TQWL booking a cheaper gamble than it looks, provided you have a plan B for travel.