The festive season is here again and people from across the nation are hopping onto the very second train to the next best destination before the summers set in. However, IRCTC’s new rules for tatkal ticket bookings have the travelers confused.

We've listed the major changes the Indian Railways Government has implemented for the year 2018 below. Have a look:

• Booking for AC Tatkal tickets will begin from 10 AM in the morning while for non-AC at 11 AM (a day before the actual date of travel).
• In case the train, for which you have booked a Tatkal ticket, is more than three hours late (from the point of origin) the passenger can claim a complete refund of fare and Tatkal charges on booked tickets.
• Passenger/s can claim a full refund of fare and Tatkal charges if the train’s route is diverted and the passenger doesn’t wish to travel on the 'diverted' route.
• If the train’s route is diverted and the boarding station/destination or both are not on the diverted route, then passenger/s can claim a refund of fare and charges on Tatkal tickets.
• Passenger/s can claim a full refund if the coach in which Tatkal accommodation is provided has been detached from the train and the passenger is not offered accommodation in the same class.
• A full refund will be provided to passenger/s if they are being accommodated in a lower class and they don't wish to travel in the lower class. However, if passenger/s agrees to travel in the lower class, he/she will be refunded the difference of fare along with the difference of Tatkal charges.

Tatkal ticket booking charges as per IRCTC 2018 rules:

According to the railways’ official website, here are the new booking charges rules for 2018.