Hello

My thread is more of a curious observations which i wish to be investigated into. I have been observing this pattern for over 6 months now and have received similar information from more than 5 people who try to book tickets from New Delhi to Amritsar in the following 3 trains:

1) Amritsar Shatabdi
2) Swarna Shatabdi
3) Golden Temple Mail

It is more than a co-incidence that while trying to book tickets for these trains through IRCTC or through any travel agent, at any point of time, for any date in future, you will find 2 things:

1) Always a waiting list or RAC.
2) Most of the times the waiting list is above 50 (Even going upto 165).

However, if you purchase the ticket through a tatkal quota (which charges a premium over the normal ticket fare) and board the train, you will find most seats vacant!!!

This is more than a one time experience and definitely raises doubts in the mind of some sort of a scam where :

1) The tickets are booked in advance by travel agents / any other parties who anticipate sale of tickets and block them. This is the reason the waiting list goes upto 160s (no sane individual will book a ticket if the waiting list is already showing say 20 or 50 for that matter)
2) Blocking tickets is good for the travel agents so that they can sell the tickets later and charge their commission (against an individual going online and booking his / her own ticket)
3) The railway department is also profiting because people are paying tatkal price for a normal ticket.

Looking forward to hear on this issue.