Tejas Express: India's Private Train — Fares & Booking

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TL;DR

• General Reservation Period: Tickets for Tejas Express open 60 days in advance (ARP) instead of the standard 120 days.
• Tatkal Booking: There is no Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quota in Tejas Express trains; all bookings fall under the general quota.
• RAC Quota: Tejas Express does not operate with RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) berths; seats are either confirmed or waitlisted.
• Current Booking: Current availability opens as soon as the first chart is prepared (about 8 hours before departure) and remains bookable online until 5 minutes before departure.
• Catering: Onboard food is optional; you can choose to skip it during booking to save on food charges.

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Few things in life are as annoying as dealing with IRCTC booking rules. We've all been there: a sudden plan change, a family emergency, or simply a delayed train, and suddenly you're staring at your phone trying to figure out how to book a premium train like the Tejas Express. Can you book after chart preparation? What are the cancellation fees under the new 2026 rules?

The Indian Railways reservation system for premium corporate trains is slightly different from standard trains. Understanding these specific timelines and rules ensures you secure your seats and recover your money instead of losing it to avoidable penalties or misunderstandings.

Let’s dive into how booking, current availability, and refunds work on the premium Tejas Express.

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What is the Tejas Express booking time in IRCTC?

Tejas Express general tickets can be booked online via the IRCTC app or website starting at 8:00 AM daily up to 60 days in advance (ARP). Unlike standard trains, there is no Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quota for Tejas Express bookings.

While standard Indian Railways services have a general Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of 60 days (reduced from 120 days in late 2024), the premium Tejas Express operates on the same 60-day booking window. Booking opens daily at 8:00 AM.

However, the most critical difference is that Tejas Express has no Tatkal or Premium Tatkal quotas. There are no last-minute 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM Tatkal windows. Every seat on the train is sold under the General Quota or specific regional quotas (like Ladies or Foreign Tourists). If you need to travel on short notice, your best bet is checking general availability or waiting for the current booking window to open.

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When does Current Availability open for Tejas Express?

Current availability for Tejas Express opens immediately after the first reservation chart preparation, which is about 8 hours before departure, and remains open until 5 minutes before scheduled departure.

If you missed the general booking window and did not secure a confirmed seat, current availability is your final option. After the first reservation chart is prepared (typically 8 hours before the train departs from its originating station), all unsold berths across different quotas (such as Ladies, Senior Citizens, or Duty Passes) are merged into a single pool.

These seats are offered as current available tickets on the IRCTC app or website. Unlike standard trains where current booking closes 30 minutes before departure, Tejas Express allows you to book these seats online up to 5 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. If you check current booking and find no seats left, you can use the LastBerth platform to find alternative arrangements before the train departs.

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How does the Tejas Express refund policy work?

For corporate Tejas Express trains, a full refund is granted if you cancel a waitlisted e-ticket, but confirmed ticket cancellations are subject to a sliding scale of charges depending on the cancellation time.

Under Indian Railways' refund rules, confirmed ticket cancellation charges are strictly determined by how far in advance the cancellation is made prior to the scheduled departure:

• More than 48 hours: You pay only a flat cancellation charge of ₹240 for Executive Class (EC) and ₹180 for AC Chair Car (CC) (plus GST).
• Between 48 hours and 12 hours: A penalty of 25% of the ticket fare (or the flat charge, whichever is higher) is deducted.
• Between 12 hours and 4 hours: A penalty of 50% of the ticket fare (or the flat charge, whichever is higher) is deducted.
• Less than 4 hours: No refund is permitted.

Unlike standard trains, the Tejas Express does not operate with an RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) system. Tickets are issued as either confirmed or waitlisted (WL). If you hold an e-ticket that remains waitlisted (e.g., in position queues like WL/1 or WL/10) after chart preparation, the system automatically cancels it and refunds the fare (minus the convenience fee) to your bank account within 3–5 working days. You cannot board the train with a waitlisted e-ticket.

Important Note: The delay compensation policy (which refunded ₹100 for delays over one hour and ₹250 for delays over two hours) was discontinued by IRCTC on February 15, 2024. Automatic financial payouts for delayed journeys are no longer active.

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What is the ticket fare and catering menu for Tejas Express?

Tejas Express fares are dynamic, following a flexi-fare model where prices increase by 10% for every 10% of seats booked, capped at 1.5 times the base fare. Onboard catering is optional; passengers who opt-in receive premium meals, snacks, and beverages, with charges included directly in their ticket fare.

Fares on the Tejas Express are structured around two seating classes: AC Chair Car (CC) with a 3x2 seat configuration, and the premium Executive Chair Car (EC) with a 2x2 layout, offering wider legroom and personalized touch screens.

Below is an overview of the catering and fare details:

Class	Seating Layout	Food Option	Menu Highlights
AC Chair Car (CC)	3x2 Seats	Optional (Add-on charge)	Morning tea, packaged breakfast, evening snacks, standard dinner
Executive Chair Car (EC)	2x2 Seats	Optional (Add-on charge)	Premium breakfast/dinner, organic juices, cornflakes, premium sweets

If you select the food option during booking, the catering charges are included in your ticket. For passengers who choose to opt out, the fare is reduced by the catering component. Water bottles and newspaper services are provided to all passengers free of charge.

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Common Booking Questions (FAQ)

Can I travel in Tejas Express with an RAC ticket?

No, you cannot travel in Tejas Express with an RAC ticket as the train does not operate with RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) status. All tickets are issued as either fully confirmed or waitlisted (WL). If your ticket remains waitlisted after the final chart preparation, it is automatically cancelled and refunded.

Can I book a child ticket without a seat in Tejas Express?

No, you cannot book a child ticket without a seat because Tejas Express is a fully seated train featuring only chair cars. Every passenger, including children aged 5 to 11, must be allocated a separate seat and paid for at the full adult fare. There is no option for a half-fare ticket without a seat allocation.

Is food compulsory on the Tejas Express?

No, onboard catering is entirely optional on the Tejas Express, and you can opt-out of meals during the booking process on IRCTC. Selecting "No Food" will deduct the catering charges from your final ticket price, allowing you to carry your own food and save money.

How do I check my Tejas Express confirmation chances?

You can check your Tejas Express confirmation chances by using the waitlist predictor tool on LastBerth. LastBerth calculates the historical confirmation probability of your waitlist position. If your ticket has low chances of clearing, you can use the homepage tools like Finding Smart Seats or Seat Status Coach Journey Lookup to find split bookings.

Does Tejas Express have a ladies quota?

Yes, Tejas Express trains have a ladies quota set aside for female passengers traveling alone or with young children. This quota remains open until chart preparation, after which any unbooked seats are merged into the general current booking pool.

Is there a dynamic fare (flexi-fare) in Tejas Express?

Yes, Tejas Express utilizes a dynamic pricing structure where the base fare increases in slabs of 10% for every 10% of seats sold. Fares are capped at 1.5 times the base fare. To secure the cheapest tickets, it is highly recommended to book as soon as the 60-day booking window opens.

Can I book Tejas Express tickets at offline railway station counters?

No, you cannot book corporate Tejas Express tickets at offline Indian Railways reservation counters as they are available exclusively online. Tickets must be booked via the IRCTC website, the IRCTC Rail Connect app, or authorized online ticketing partners.

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Related Guides

• GNWL vs RLWL vs PQWL Waitlist Types Explained
• How to Check Vacant Berths After Chart Preparation
• Connecting Train Bookings: Linking PNRs for Missed Connections