National, 31st May 25: redRail, the train ticketing platform by redBus, and IRCTC authorized partner, has recently launched a game-changing feature for train travellers ‘Seat Guarantee’, which is an industry-first solution designed to eliminate the stress and uncertainty of waitlisted Tatkal bookings. s booking a waitlisted Tatkal ticket on select trains through redRail can opt to pay a small Seat Guarantee along with the regular Tatkal fares as per IRCTC pricing, to avail the feature. If the ticket doesn’t get confirmed, travellers receive 3X the ticket amount as refund (full ticket refund value and an additional 2X refund value as a voucher coupon on redBus or redRail).
For years, booking Tatkal tickets has been the source of worry and uncertainty, where travellers book under pressure at the last minute and are often stuck with waitlisted tickets and no backup. Tatkal seats as a category see very high demand; for example IRCTC e-ticketing platform saw its highest hourly booking record of 1,85,513 during tatkal hours between 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. on 21-03-2024 in FY 2023-24. With low confirmation rates and no guarantees, waitlisted Tatkal bookings have been a major source of travel anxiety. redRail’s new feature -Seat Guarantee on tatkal tickets, tackles this problem effectively.
Most s who availed the feature have travelled on confirmed tatkal tickets. For the others, the 3X refund in credits ensures quick recovery and alternate planning. The feature is currently available on select trains, and currently the highest uptake has been seen in South India, followed by the Western region. In addition to Tatkal, the Seat Guarantee feature is already live for the waitlist for general quota bookings.
“Tatkal booking is one of the most stressful moments in an Indian rail traveller’s journey. There’s a narrow window, limited supply, and low confirmation rates, especially for waitlisted Tatkal tickets. We saw that s wanted to book tickets but at times they held back due to uncertainty. That’s what prompted us to build ‘Seat Guarantee for tatkal tickets’. It’s a tech-led solution designed to unlock trust and confidence in last-minute train travel. With this offering, we’re not just solving a functional problem, we’re helping millions of s make more assured, anxiety-free booking decisions in critical travel moments” said Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus.