Starting August 1, 2026, the West Central Railway (WCR) is introducing a structured token system at its reservation counters to streamline the Tatkal booking process. This initiative is designed to eliminate long queues, reduce passenger inconvenience, and bring greater transparency to counter bookings. Following a successful pilot in the Kota Division earlier this year, the system will now be implemented more broadly to ensure a smoother experience for travellers.
Key details of the new booking system include:
- AC class tokens will be issued between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
- Non-AC (Sleeper) class tokens will be issued from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM.
- Each counter will initially provide 10 tokens for AC and 15 tokens for non-AC classes, subject to local demand adjustments.
- Category A (Priority) is reserved for those booking for themselves or immediate family, requiring valid proof of relationship.
- Category B includes all other passengers, who must present an Aadhaar card or government-recognized photo ID.
Understanding the New Booking Protocol
While the token system changes how passengers secure their place in line, the actual Tatkal booking timings remain unchanged, with AC bookings starting at 10:00 AM and Non-AC bookings at 11:00 AM. Saurabh Jain, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Sr DCM) of the Kota Division, noted that this system is specifically designed to prevent the need for multiple trips to the station, allowing passengers to obtain their tokens just before the booking window opens.
It is important to note that all tokens distributed are strictly non-transferable. This move by the West Central Railway complements broader efforts across the Indian Railways network to modernize the ticketing experience. This includes recent mandates such as the requirement for Aadhaar-based OTP authentication for online Tatkal bookings via IRCTC, which was implemented earlier in July 2026. By organizing the physical queue effectively, WCR aims to provide a hassle-free environment for passengers who rely on station counters for their last-minute travel needs.