When does my train ticket open for booking?
Indian Railways opens reservations 60 days before the journey, at 08:00 AM IST, and the journey date itself is not counted. Enter your travel date for the exact opening date, a live countdown, Tatkal timings and a calendar reminder.
The day the train departs from your boarding station.
Almost all mail and express trains, all classes, Indian nationals.
Three windows, three clocks
60 days
08:00 AM IST
General advance reservation, almost every mail and express train.
1 day before
10:00 AM IST
Tatkal, AC classes: 2A, 3A, 3E, CC, EC, EA.
1 day before
11:00 AM IST
Tatkal, non-AC classes: SL, FC and 2S.
Other tools
Each answers one question exactly, from the published rules.
Five things that decide whether you get CNF
On a popular route the gap between 08:00 and 08:20 is the gap between a lower berth and a waitlist.
- 1Save every traveller in your IRCTC Master List beforehand. On opening day you only pick names instead of typing them.
- 2Log in five minutes early. The login queue, not the booking form, is what usually costs people a confirmed berth.
- 3Keep a UPI app or saved card ready. Payment timeouts are the most common reason a held seat is released.
- 4For Tatkal, the first 30 minutes are agent-free by rule, so a normal user genuinely has an edge in that window.
- 5If the 60-day date falls on a day you cannot book, remember that the window only opens then. It does not close.
Frequently asked questions
How many days in advance can I book a train ticket in India?
60 days, excluding the date of journey. Indian Railways cut the Advance Reservation Period from 120 days to 60 days with effect from 1 November 2024. The 365-day window for foreign tourists booking under the Foreign Tourist quota was left unchanged.
At what time does IRCTC booking open?
General advance reservation opens at 08:00 AM IST on the day the 60-day window falls. Tatkal opens the previous day at 10:00 AM IST for AC classes and 11:00 AM IST for non-AC classes.
Is the journey date counted in the 60 days?
No. The count excludes the date of journey. For a journey on 30 December, the 60-day window opens on 31 October, not 1 November.
Which trains do not follow the 60-day rule?
A few day-time intercity express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, keep a shorter advance reservation period. Some special and seasonal services are notified with 30, 15 or 10-day windows. Always check the specific train before assuming 60 days.
When does Tatkal booking open?
One day before the date of journey, excluding the journey date. AC classes open at 10:00 AM IST and non-AC classes at 11:00 AM IST. For a journey on 15 October, AC Tatkal opens at 10:00 AM on 14 October.
Do I need Aadhaar to book Tatkal tickets?
Yes for online booking. Since 1 July 2025 only Aadhaar-authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and app, and from 15 July 2025 an Aadhaar-linked OTP is required for Tatkal tickets booked at PRS counters and through authorised agents.
Can travel agents book Tatkal the moment it opens?
No. Authorised agents are barred from booking opening-day Tatkal for the first 30 minutes: 10:00 to 10:30 AM for AC classes and 11:00 to 11:30 AM for non-AC classes.
What happens if I miss the 08:00 AM opening?
Nothing is lost automatically, but popular routes can move to waitlist within minutes. Set a reminder for a few minutes before the window opens, keep your passenger list saved in your IRCTC master list, and have payment ready.
Still unsure how the count works? Read the full guide to the advance reservation period.
Browse every date
Pick any journey date in the next six months to see when its 60-day window opens, when Tatkal opens, and a live countdown to 08:00 AM IST.