What Is The Difference Between Tatkal And Premium Tatkal Tickets On Indian Railways?

 

When planning a rail trip at the last minute we end up with the disappointment of a long waiting list or the tickets get exhausted. During such travel emergencies, the Tatkal booking and premium tatkal tickets seem to be a blessing for all the passengers. IRCTC offers these ticket bookings quotas for immediate plans. 

 

The major difference between these two ticket booking types is ticket prices. The Tatkal ticket price has been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10 percent of basic fare for second class and 30 percent of basic fare for all other classes of the trains. Premium Tatkal tickets work on dynamic fare pricing.

 

• What is Tatkal Ticket?

Tatkal tickets literally mean ‘immediately’ or ‘instantly’. One of the main characteristics of the tatkal ticket is that it allows all the passengers to book a ticket within a span of two days. The tatkal tickets offer people the chance to travel immediately or in an emergency. The tatkal booking for every train is available for booking two days in advance and booking is open only for a fixed period of time which starts at 8 a.m. Tatkal tickets can be booked online as well as on PRS counters.

• What is a Premium Tatkal Ticket?

Railway board introduced Premium tatkal, which will have its own characteristics that are different from tatkal tickets. One of the main properties of premium tatkal tickets is the dynamic pricing of premium tatkal ticket price which means that the price varies with the demand for the ticket.

Differences Between Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

1. Charges of the Tickets for Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

One of the main differences between tatkal tickets and premium tickets is the charges of the train tickets under this quota. 

• The tatkal ticket price is fixed to all the passengers while the ticket price of the premium tatkal is dynamic. 
• The premium tatkal ticket price is dynamic and is dependent on the demand or the availability of the passengers willing to travel. As the demand for tickets increases, the cost of premium tatkal is elevated. And lower the prices of premium tatkal if the demand is low.

However, it is to be noted that the premium tatkal ticket price is higher than the Tatkal Ticket Price.

2. Method of Bookings in Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

The process of booking tickets varies between tatkal and premium tatkal. 

• Tatkal tickets can be booked through IRCTC official website, PRS counters and agents.
• This is not the same for premium tatkal tickets as they are only available on an online platform that is managed by the Indian railway. Agents are not allowed to book premium tatkal tickets.

3. Concession of Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

The concession is the process through which an IRCTC gives a preferential allowance or rate to a certain group of people. One of the main differences between tatkal and premium tatkal is that tatkal tickets offer preferential allowances to young children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. 

• Tatkal tickets offer the concession towards special interest groups that do not pay equivalent ticket prices which are charged to other passengers. 
• Premium tatkal does not offer the preferential allowance to children, senior citizens, or other special interest groups.

4. Waitlisting in Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

Waitlisting is the concerning situation for a person before making an informed decision for the travel date to passengers. 

• RAC or waiting tickets can be booked through Tatkal tickets. 
• Passengers who book a premium tatkal ticket are not listed on the waitlist. Premium tatkal holders are given the preference of traveling immediately because they pay significantly higher prices as compared to tatkal ticket holders and only confirm tickets booked under this.

5. Cancellation of Tickets in Tatkal and Premium Tatkal

Many people are demented when it comes to cancellation of waitlisting tatkal tickets. It is worth remembering that, at the end of the day, a passenger on the waiting list will travel while a person with a canceled ticket will not be able to travel.

• Tickets under the premium tatkal are never canceled and if they are canceled, the money is never refunded. It is assumed that the passenger failed to turn up to the railway station for reservation of his or her seat. You must know the latest IRCTC ticket cancellation and refund rules.
• The tatkal tickets involve the cancellation of the ticket. However, in the event of the cancelation of a tatkal ticket, the passenger is granted the opportunity to get his or her money back which is opposed by premium tatkal where he or she can not get his or her money back.