IRCTC 'Current Ticket Booking': How can you get confirmed ticket 5 minutes before train departs?

Indian Railways is the lifeline of our country, connecting millions of people every day. If you are a frequent train traveler, this information is worth it for you. Have you ever needed to travel suddenly without a confirmed ticket? Even if Tatkal booking is sold out, you can still get a confirmed ticket just before the train departs. Check out 'Current Ticket' booking, a railway facility that lets you book a confirmed ticket even 5 minutes before departure. 

Current ticket booking after train chart preparation

According to the IRCTC website, current ticket booking starts after the train chart is prepared. Generally, the chart is prepared about four hours before the train departs. Even after the chart is prepared, some seats often remain vacant, and these tickets are booked under the current booking. In such a situation, passengers can book tickets online until some time before the train leaves. This facility is available on both the IRCTC website and mobile app.

How to book current ticket in IRCTC

To book a ticket, the passenger has to go to the IRCTC app or website and fill in all the required information, and select the date on which the train is departing. It is worth noting that this booking is done after the chart is prepared, so usually the current booking status can be seen only 4 hours in advance. After this, when the passenger selects the train and class, if the seat is vacant, then 'CURR_AVBL', i.e., 'Current Available', is written. This means that the current ticket is available on that train, and you can book a confirmed ticket immediately.

IRCTC current ticket booking time

Usually, the current booking status can be seen only 4 hours in advance after the chart is prepared. The next step after chart preparation is that the passenger selects the train and class. If the seat is vacant, then 'CURR_AVBL', i.e., 'Current Available', is mentioned.

Current ticket booking rules

According to IRCTC, current booking is done only in the form of e-tickets, and only confirmed tickets are issued. That is, the facility of a waiting list is not provided under the current booking. Once the current ticket is booked, there is no permission to change the name, age, gender, or boarding station in it.