Tatkal booking system for Heritage Train
Coimbatore: Tatkal system of booking tickets is being introduced in the Mettupalayam-Udhagamndalam Mettupalayam-Nilgiri Mountain Railway, for which advance reservation system is available at present, with immediate effect.
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Tatkal booking system for Heritage Train
Out of the 90 second class seats, nine seats have been allotted for Tatkal and charges for it would be Rs 40 per ticket for the Train numbers 56136/56137.
The extant rules applicable to Tatkal reservations would apply to the Tatkal bookings of NMR as well.
NMR, the heritage train, is a major attraction for tourists to Udhagamandalam, one of the major tourist spots in the world.
It appears that IRCTC and Indian Railways have not introduced Tatkal booking for heritage trains. Here’s what’s currently confirmed:
🧳 Key Points on Tatkal & Heritage Trains
1. Tatkal Scheme Overview
- Available for most reserved-class trains under the Tatkal scheme introduced in 1997. Booking opens 1 day before journey—10 AM for AC classes and 11 AM for non-AC classes. Other classes and quotas (like Premium Tatkal) follow similar rules
- Heritage trains—typically running on narrow/metric gauge with limited classes and fewer seats—are excluded from regular Tatkal quotas and dynamic pricing/new rules.
2. No Tatkal Quota for Heritage Trains
- Heritage or tourist trains such as Palace on Wheels, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and local heritage lines do not fall under Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, or regular reservation schemes.
- Tickets for these special trains are sold via pre-booked tourist packages, reservation counters, or dedicated booking portals—not IRCTC standardized Tatkal channels.
3. No Official Updates or Sources
- Recent Tatkal booking rule changes (like Aadhaar OTP verification, agent restrictions, and AI-based security) from July 2025 apply only to standard reservation — not heritage trains
- There has been no press release, circular, or official statement indicating extension of Tatkal provisions to any heritage train services.
✅ Summary Table
| Aspect | Status |
|---|---|
| Heritage Train Booking | Through specialized channels—no Tatkal |
| Tatkal Scheme | Only for eligible reserved-class trains |
| Tatkal for Heritage Trains | ❌ Not available |
| New Tatkal Rules (2025) | Aadhaar, OTP, agent restrictions – NOT applicable to heritage trains |
🧭 Final Thought
If you’re planning to travel on a heritage or tourist train, you’ll need to check the specific booking method tied to that service (like IRCTC tourism, zonal tourism sites, or authorised agents). As of mid-2025, Tatkal booking is not supported for these trains.
Would you like help locating official booking portals or package options for a specific heritage train route?
