BHOPAL: Those opting for premium tatkal facility would get more benefits starting from early bookings and confirmed lower berths in trains.

According to railway sources, facility would now be available from 8 am soon. Currently both tatkal and premium tatkal are available from 10 am from reservation counters and IRCTC website .

Besides the convenience of early bookings, guaranteed lower berths would also be available for those opting for the premium service.

“Often tatkal quota holders don’t get lower berths. But those paying a premium would be entitled to the same,” said an official. As per the scheme, passengers will have to pay normal Tatkal fare for 50% of the total tickets available while railways will charge as per dynamic pricing for rest 50% of the tickets.

After booking of the first 50% of tatkal tickets under tatkal quota, the subsequent 50% tatkal tickets will be sold on dynamic pricing. Fares will increase by 20% after each slab of 10% berths are sold subject to the existing cap (maximum fare chargeable) on dynamic fare. In west central railway (WCR) the five trains are Habibganj-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Habibganj-Hazrat Nizamuddin Shaan-e-Bhopal Express, Somnath Express, Somnath Express (via Bina) and Shaktipunj Express that have the new dynamic pricing of tatkal tickets . They are among the 80 trains in the country that currently have dynamic pricing.

Revised fares for these trains are for passengers, who are ready to pay more and price would be determined on the basis of demand. However, this system is applicable only for online bookings, sources said.

