Advance Reservation Period for Train Ticket Booking
Advance Reservation Period for Special Trains – Advance Reservation Period IRCTC for Special Train
Advance Reservation Period of Select Special Trains increased from 10 days to 120 days
Railways have earlier announced 10 days as the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for booking of tickets in select special trains.
Now it is decided to increase the ARP to 120 days for following trains with effect from 10.2.2025.
- Train No. 07415 Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus Kolhapur – Tirupati Special
- Train No. 07618 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai – Hazur Sahib Nanded Special
- Train No. 02729 Pune-Hazur Sahib Nanded Special
- Train No. 02236 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Secunderabad Special
- Train No. 07613 Panvel- Hazur Sahib Nanded Special
- Train No. 02766 Amravati-Tirupati Festival Special
Bookings for all above special trains with Advance Reservation Period of 120 days will open on 10.2.2025 at all computerised reservation centres and on website www.irctc.co.in.
The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for Indian Railways—the number of days in advance you can book reserved train tickets—is currently 60 days, excluding the date of journey (effective November 1, 2025)
Contents
🗓️ Booking Windows
- General Reservation (non‑Tatkal): Tickets open for booking 60 days before the scheduled departure date of the train
- If your journey is on, say, August 10, reservations open at 08:00 AM on June 11.
- Intermediate stations: Booking opens 61 days in advance for journeys starting or ending at intermediate stations on the same route
🌍 Exemptions & Special Cases
- Foreign tourists: Eligible to book up to 365 days in advance for select routes via specialized service windows
- Suvidha Express trains: These operate under a separate scheme with a shorter booking window of 10–30 days, dynamic fares, no waitlist, and separate ticketing rules—including no concessions or cancellations
🕒 Reservation Timings
- General class bookings usually open around 08:00 AM IST, though system availability may improve slightly earlier (~07:45 AM)
- Tatkal bookings:
- AC coaches: open at 10:00 AM one day before the journey date.
- Non-AC reserved coaches: open at 11:00 AM one day before travel
📰 Recent Updates (2025)
- Reservation charts are now finalized 8 hours before train departure (up from previous 4 hours), improving information visibility and reducing last-minute uncertainty
- Aadhaar authentication is now mandatory for Tatkal bookings, effective July 2025—intended to curb misuse and enhance fairness in booking access
🧾 Summary Table
| Booking Type | Advance Reservation Period | Booking Time (General) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Reservation | 60 days before departure | ~08:00 AM IST | Standard booking window |
| Intermediate Station Travel | 61 days | ~08:00 AM IST | For partial-route trips |
| Foreign Tourists | Up to 365 days | Depends on scheme | via designated counters |
| Suvidha Express (special) | 10–30 days | As per schedule | Dynamic fare, no waitlist, no concessions |
| Tatkal (AC / Non-AC coaches) | 1 day before travel | 10:00 / 11:00 AM | Last-minute urgent booking |
✅ Tips & Advice
- Set reminders: Use calendar alerts since tickets open exactly at 60 days at 08:00 AM IST—don’t miss your booking window.
- Check eligibility: For foreign tourists or special trains like Suvidha, different rules apply.
- Track reservation charts: Released now 8 hours before departure, so check status early if you’re on the waitlist or booking late.
- Plan Tatkal carefully: Use Aadhaar-linked IRCTC account, and time your booking exactly when the window opens.
Need help calculating your booking date, checking fare types, or confirming availability for your travel date? Just let me know!