Same day departure tickets still available?

I've tried to find something on this but I am pretty confused with all those new tickets. I read in a post from 2008 that it is possible to purchase a few tickets 2 hours prior the train departs, that they always hold some for same day departure.

My friend's visa will be late, so she will have to follow me to India a few days later and since we don't know which exact day we can't book online and most of them are all booked out anyway. She would need a ticket from Delhi to Haridwar, and most likely would have to purchase the same day the train departs.

So does the info I read in the 2008 post still apply, or have things changed by now?

Thanks for any help!

I've often booked the Shatabdi Express the day before on the foreign tourist quota. So you could book on the day your friend flies and leave the next day or day after.

Without relying much on the foreign tourist quota and if the no. of ppl travelling is less, you can book WL'ed tickets for 2-3 some probable dates. Cancellation of WL'ed tickets wont cost you much.

If your boarding station is an intermediate station, the above option would be suitable as many of the intermediate station sees chart preparation the previous night.

Going to the foreign toursit cell the day before won't cost you a penny! there are at least 20 places available on suitable trains.