How to Get Confirmed Ticket When Train Tickets Are Sold Out

By: Swarn Rajhans | onNovember 11, 2025

If you’ve tried booking tickets during high rush times such as Diwali, Holi or Summer Holidays, then you know how difficult it is to get a Confirmed Ticket. Tickets get exhausted within minutes as soon as they open up. As a passenger you might feel frustrated and hopeless about the possibilities about your train journey.

However, there are different methods to turn around your ticket booking luck and make the journey possible. RailMitra provides you with tips and tricks to secure a confirmed ticket even after all the train tickets are shown to be booked. Here’s what you can do.

Use the Tatkal Ticket Booking

Tatkal is Indian Railways in-built option for last minute ticket booking. Passengers can book a Confirmed ticket just one day before the date of departure. For AC coaches booking begins at 10 AM while for Non-AC coaches the booking starts at 11 AM.

Tatkal Tickets get exhausted within minutes. Therefore, you should be attentive and focussed while booking tickets. Log In at 09:59 AM for AC coaches and 10:59 AM for non AC coaches. Use biometric login, pre fill passengers details and use the faster UPI method to pay the charges. Lower the time taken to book the tatkal ticket, higher the chances of a confirmed booking.

Premium Tatkal: Costlier but Safer

If Tatkal slips away, Premium Tatkal is your plan B. It is much more expensive than the Tatkal tickets, rivalling flight ticket prices..Choose this ticket booking option only if you are truly desperate about the journey and can’t leave it at any cost.

Vikalp Scheme

If you have a Waiting List ticket and the journey is not getting confirmed, Vikalp is an excellent scheme to pick for. Vikalp Scheme allows you to pick up to 7 alternate trains on similar train routes. If your original ticket is Waitlisted and there are available seats on your picked trains, you will be allotted a Confirmed ticket and seat on this train.

Check PNR Status

If you have a ticket, but it is a RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) or WL (Waiting List) ticket, you should diligently check your PNR Status. PNR Status provides the real-time status of your booking and you can use it to see if your status is improving or not.

Another important tool to use here is RailMitra’s PNR Prediction service. This service helps you get a confirmed ticket probability score based on historical data. With this you can predict whether to wait for ticket confirmation or look for different booking options.

Split Your Journey

If you are unable to get a confirmed ticket on a certain route, try splitting the train route instead. For example, if you are looking for a train from Patna to Mumbai, you might see all the seats booked. You can tackle this situation by splitting the journey. Book a train ticket from Patna to Itarsi, and then from Itarsi to Mumbai. Passengers can easily travel by this method, even when all the seats are booked on a train route.

You can use RailMitra’s train schedule service to track the train routes, stoppages and train timings of a train journey. This service will give you a good idea on which connecting trains you should choose.

Pick a Different Train Class

When all the seats in the selected train class are shown booked, you can shift your class to get a confirmed ticket. Many times, there are available seats in a different train class.

Most often, the seats are available in higher classes. For example if seats are booked in 3AC class, there might be a chance of available seats in the 2AC coaches.

Use RailMitra’s Services to Smoothen Your Journey

If you are able to finally get the confirmed train ticket, the struggle is not yet over. Indian Railways might catch you off guard if you are not well informed or planned. Here are some essential Rail Tools from RailMitra that will enhance the comfort level of your journey:

Live train status: Trains often get delayed due to traffic congestions, repairs and other technical reasons. By using RailMitra’s live train running status you can track the most updated train timings adjusted to the details, live station and even the platform on which the train will halt.

Train Seat Availability: If you have decided to book an alternate train, the first step should be to check if there are seats available on it. RailMitra’s train seat availability service helps us find this in real time.

Train Food Delivery: If you are feeling hungry and craving for delicious food, you don’t have to compromise with the boring Pantry car food. Choose RailMitra train food delivery and get delicious food delivered on your train seat.

The Bottom Line

Getting a confirmed train ticket in peak rush times like festivals, holidays and weekends is difficult. This difficulty can be minimised with information about relevant rail services and steps like Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, Vikalp, PNR Status, Train Schedule and many more services.

RailMitra’s smooth and user-friendly services will keep you informed all along your train journey. So, the next time you are unable to get a confirmed ticket, don’t panic. Use the tips provided and RailMitra’s train services and you might be able to secure a confirmed ticket for your journey.