There are certain authorized travel agencies, which can also issue tickets. From the year 2001 onwards, Senior citizens are allowed a 30% reduction on their reserved tickets. Online train ticket reservations are also possible, but most people in India do not have access to a computer and internet, so the lines at the computerized reservations counters just keep getting longer and longer.
Indian Railways reservation for passengers who wish to go on sight seeing or pilgrimage trips can book their tickets in advance. Such reservations are possible for all classes provided the journey begins and ends at the same station. Break journeys are admissible provided they are not more than eight.
The status of your reserved ticket is indicated as “confirmed” if the ticket indicates a coach and berth number. If it is indicated AS RAC, then you can enter the coach, but will be provided only sitting. If the ticket is waitlisted., it means you cannot get into the reserved coaches.
Reservation for certain trains for which Tatkal reservation is admissible can be done 5 days before the date of journey. Of course, an additional fee has to be paid for this emergency reservation and such Tatkal tickets cannot be changed or cancelled. The journey should be completed within the validity period mentioned in the ticket.
Indian Railways also allow special reservation for people traveling in groups. Now Indian Railways reservations can be made online. Not only is online reservation possible, but checking whether a waitlisted ticket is confirmed, checking whether there is a change in fare or finding out the latest train timings are possible.
However if you cancel a waitlisted ticket, there is no cancellation fee provided you cancel the ticket well in advance. Cancellation of reservations can be done even after the train departs. The amount that will be returned to you will be about 50% of what you paid.
In addition to ordinary reservation, there is an emergency reservation scheme called “TATKAL”.
