Tatkal Ticket Cancellation Charges

While Tatkal ticket cancellation charges are usually the full amount, there are some exceptions when you can get a refund

Getting confirmed train tickets is a big challenge in many trains across India. And things become even worse during specific periods like summer vacations, festivals, etc. Due to shortage of regular train tickets, many people are forced to buy Tatkal tickets or Premium Tatkal tickets. The rules are quite different for Tatkal ticket cancellation charges. Let us check out the details.

Confirmed Tatkal ticket cancellation charges

The simple rule for Tatkal ticket cancellation charges is that not even a single rupee is issued as a refund. This is applicable when you have a confirmed Tatkal ticket and you cancel it yourself. However, you can still get a refund in specific situations. For example, you can get a full refund (excluding service charge) if your train is cancelled or late by more than 3 hours. In case your train is late by more than 3 hours, you can file a TDR to claim full refund. Do not cancel the Tatkal confirmed ticket if you want to claim TDR.

Waitlisted Tatkal ticket cancellation charges

In case you have a waitlisted Tatkal ticket, the ticket will be automatically cancelled if not confirmed. In this case, you will get a full refund (excluding the service charge + GST). You need not cancel a waitlisted Tatkal ticket yourself, since it will be cancelled automatically.

Partially confirmed Tatkal ticket cancellation charges

If your Tatkal ticket has multiple passengers and only some of them get confirmed tickets, you have the right to cancel all the tickets and get a full refund. For example, let us assume that 2 passengers get confirmed and 2 do not get confirmed. In this case, you have the option to cancel the full ticket and get a full refund for all four passengers (excluding the service charge + GST).

To get a full refund in this case, you need to cancel the full ticket at least 30 minutes before the departure of the train. If only two of you choose to travel, the waitlisted tickets of the other two passengers will be automatically cancelled and a full refund will be issued.

Premium Tatkal ticket cancellation charges

Premium Tatkal is when things become very costly, sometimes even more than a flight ticket. Premium Tatkal is essentially a dynamic pricing system, where the prices are determined by the demand for tickets in a specific train. Cost of a Premium Tatkal ticket can be 2x or 3x or even higher, depending on overall demand.

While Premium Tatkal is costly, there are no cancellation charges to worry about. It is because the concept of waitlist or RAC does not apply to Premium Tatkal. The rule is simple – you get a confirmed ticket or you do not. If you cancel your confirmed Premium Tatkal ticket, no refund will be issued.

However, you can get a full refund if the Railways fail to perform their duties. For example, a refund can be issued if the train is cancelled or is delayed by more than three hours. Similarly, a refund can be claimed if the train is diverted and does not touch your boarding or destination station. It is also possible that you may be shifted to a lower category if the AC system in the AC coach malfunctions. In this case, you can claim the difference amount. You will have to file a TDR to claim a refund in such cases.