Current Booking IRCTC: Same-Day Train Ticket 4 Hours Before Departure

What is Current Booking on IRCTC?

Current Booking (also called Current Availability or CK quota) is a railway quota that opens 4 hours before a train's departure from its source station. If seats remain unsold — after regular booking, Tatkal, Ladies, and other quotas are exhausted — they go into the current booking pool. This gives last-minute travellers a chance at confirmed tickets at regular fare (no Tatkal premium).

How to Book Current Booking Ticket Online

Go to irctc.co.in or the IRCTC Rail Connect app. Search for your train on today's date. If current booking has opened (within 4 hours of departure), you will see 'CK' (Current Booking) in the availability column. Select the class, choose 'Current Booking' quota, add passenger details, and pay. Seat is confirmed instantly.

Current Booking vs Tatkal: Key Differences

Current Booking opens 4 hours before departure; Tatkal opens 1 day before. Current Booking is at regular fare; Tatkal charges a premium (₹90–₹400+ depending on class and distance). Current Booking availability is whatever is left after all other quotas; Tatkal has its own dedicated seats. For last-minute travel, check current booking first — if available, it is cheaper than Tatkal.

What If No Current Booking Is Available?

If the train shows no current booking availability, all seats have been sold or allocated to other quotas. Options: check other trains on the same route; buy a general (unreserved) ticket at the station — valid for the General (GS) coach; buy platform ticket and board with general coach ticket (no berth guarantee); wait at the station and ask TTE about empty berths — TTEs can issue berth upgrades for a fee.

Common Questions

When does current booking open on IRCTC?

Current booking opens 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train from its source/originating station. For example, if a train departs Delhi at 16:00, current booking opens at 12:00 that day.

Is there any extra charge for current booking?

No — current booking is at the standard fare. No Tatkal premium or surcharge is applied. You pay the same price as a ticket booked 120 days in advance.

Can I book current booking ticket at railway station counter?

Yes — current booking tickets are available both online (IRCTC) and at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters at railway stations. Counter booking does not require an IRCTC account.

Does current booking always have seats available?

No — current booking availability depends on what is left after all other quotas (regular ARP, Tatkal, ladies quota, etc.) are sold. On popular routes and peak season, nothing may be left for current booking.

Can I get a current booking ticket on Rajdhani or Shatabdi?

Yes — current booking is available on all train types including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat, subject to availability in the 4-hour window before departure.

What is the difference between current booking and general ticket?

Current booking gives a reserved berth/seat at standard fare — same as a regular advance ticket. A general (unreserved) ticket has no seat guarantee — you sit in the General coach, which is first-come-first-served.

Can WL tickets become current booking?

WL passengers who cancel their tickets free up seats that may enter the current booking pool. So checking current availability closer to departure (within 4 hours) sometimes reveals seats that weren't available earlier.

How do I check if current booking is open for my train?

Search for your train on irctc.co.in or the IRCTC app on today's date. If within the 4-hour window, the availability column will show 'CK' with the number of available seats. If it shows 'CURR_AVAIL 0' or similar, no seats are available.

Useful Links

Check your ticket directly, track train running status, or read related railway guides.