Red Rail launches ‘Seat Guarantee’ with 3X refund for waitlisted Tatkal tickets

IRCTC-authorised platform redRail has introduced a new feature aimed at reducing travel uncertainty for Indian railway passengers. The newly launched ‘Seat Guarantee’ scheme promises a threefold refund if a Tatkal ticket remains unconfirmed, setting a new benchmark in the rail ticketing space.

Under this scheme, passengers will receive a full refund of the ticket fare, along with vouchers worth twice the ticket amount. These vouchers can be redeemed on redRail or redBus platforms. The feature is available to users booking waitlisted Tatkal tickets on select trains and involves an additional fee over the standard Tatkal fare set by IRCTC.

Tatkal ticket bookings are known to be among the most stressful and time-sensitive processes in Indian railway travel. With demand frequently exceeding supply, confirmed seats are not assured, leaving many passengers stranded. IRCTC reported a peak Tatkal booking volume of 1,85,513 tickets in a single hour during FY 2023-24, reflecting the intense competition for these tickets.

redRail’s new feature is intended to provide a safety net for passengers whose travel plans may be disrupted due to waitlist issues. The scheme has seen high adoption in Southern India, followed by the Western region. Currently, it is available on select routes and complements the existing ‘Seat Guarantee’ offered 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,” said Prakash Sangam, CEO of redBus. “We saw that users 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.”

According to the company, the majority of users who opted for the feature ended up with confirmed tickets. For those who didn’t, the refund credits have facilitated prompt recovery and allowed them to make alternate travel plans.