What is the IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule?

Have you ever tried to book a train ticket on IRCTC during holidays or festivals? You may have seen messages like “No tickets available.” This happens because some smart people know IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule and book train tickets 60 days before the journey. By the time you try, the seats are already sold out.

But don’t worry. The IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule is very simple. If you know when to book, you can get your ticket easily.

What is the IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule?

According to this rule, IRCTC allows you to book train tickets 60 days (2 months) before your travel date.

For example:

• If you want to travel on June 20,
• Booking will start on April 21 at 8:00 AM.

If you book at the right time, you can get a confirmed seat without a waiting list or RAC.

Starting from November 1, 2024, the IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule (ARP – Advance Reservation Period) is officially applicable for all trains (except for some short-distance or special trains). 

Previously, the Advance Reservation Period was 120 days (4 months). From November 1, 2024, it is reduced to 60 days (2 months) for most trains.

Why is this rule important?

Many people want to travel during:

• Festivals (like Diwali, Holi, Christmas)
• School holidays
• Long weekends

Because of this rule, tickets get sold out very fast. Some trains are full within a few minutes after booking starts.

If you book early, you can get your seat. If you don’t, you may have to sit on RAC or waitlist, or pay more money for Tatkal tickets.

How to find the IRCTC ticket booking opening date easily?

Counting 60 days on a calendar manually can be confusing. That’s why you can use a simple website like TrainDate.in.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your journey date.
2. Click on “Calculate Booking Date.”
3. It will show you the exact date and time when booking starts.
4. You can even set a reminder on Google Calendar to not to forget.

This website makes it super easy to know when to book your IRCTC train ticket.

How to be ready before 8:00 AM?

Just knowing the date is not enough. You should be ready before booking opens.

 Here are some easy tips:

1. Login Early

Log in to your IRCTC account a few minutes before 8:00 AM. This saves time.

2. Save Passenger Details

Add the details of people who will travel with you in your IRCTC account. 

3. Use Fast Payment

UPI or saved cards are the fastest way to pay. The faster you pay, the better chance you have to get your ticket.

4. Use Only One Tab

Don’t open many windows or tabs. It can make the website slow or log you out.

5. Book Immediately

As soon as 8:00 AM hits, book the ticket. Don’t wait or think too long.

Some special rules of IRCTC you should know

Most trains follow the IRCTC 60-days advance booking rule. 

But there are a few special cases:

• Tatkal Tickets: You can book Tatkal tickets 1 day before the journey. Tatkal starts at 10:00 AM for AC coaches and 11:00 AM for Sleeper class.
• Premium Tatkal: Also opens 1 day before. But these tickets usually cost more.
• Short-distance trains: Some trains may allow booking only 30 days before.
• Festival Trains: For special trains during festivals, booking may open early.

Note: Always check the IRCTC website to be sure.

Why does setting a reminder help?

Many people forget the booking date. By the time they remember, tickets are gone.

The easy way is to set a Google Calendar reminder.

With TrainDate.in, you can:

• Find the booking date
• Add the date to your calendar
• Get a notification before 8:00 AM

This way, you will never miss the booking time.

Why is booking 60 days early the best?

• ✅ You Get a Seat: If you book early, you don’t need to worry about waitlist or RAC.
• 💰 You Save Money: Normal tickets cost less than Tatkal tickets.
• 🧘 No Stress: You don’t need to rush at the last minute.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Group Travel Is Easier: Families and friends can sit together if they book early.
• 🛏️ You Can Choose Your Seat: You get more options.

How to check if booking is open or not?

If you don’t want to use any website, you can check directly on IRCTC:

1. Go to irctc.co.in
2. Enter your From and To stations
3. Choose your journey date
4. If booking is open, you can book
5. If it says “Booking not allowed yet,” the date is still too early.

What happens if you miss the booking date?

If you miss it, here’s what can happen:

• You may not get a confirmed ticket.
• You may get RAC or Waiting List.
• You may need to pay more for Tatkal.
• You may not get your favorite train or seat.

That’s why it’s better to book early and be ready at 8:00 AM.

Quick tips to never miss IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking date

• Know your travel date.
• Use TrainDate.in to find the booking date.
• Set a reminder on your phone or calendar.
• Log in to IRCTC a few minutes early.
• Book fast at 8:00 AM.

If you follow these steps, you will get your tickets easily.

Final Words

The IRCTC 60-Days Advance Booking Rule is very simple.

• If you book early, you’ll get your seat.
• If you wait too long, tickets will be gone.

So, check your travel date, find your booking date, set a reminder, and be ready at 8:00 AM.

You’ll travel with comfort, save money, and avoid stress.

Happy train journey!

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