Have you booked a confirmed train ticket, but your travel plans changed at the last minute? Until now, in such a situation, you had to cancel the ticket and book a new one, which resulted in hefty cancellation charges and wasted money. The Railways are about to put an end to this major hassle! Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has announced that, starting in January, confirmed train tickets can be rescheduled online without any additional fees. This unprecedented facility will bring great relief to millions of rail passengers.
No more ticket cancellation hassles
Currently, if a passenger wants to change their travel date, they must first cancel the ticket and then book a new one. In this process, the closer the cancellation is to the travel date, the more money is deducted. The Railway Minister has described this old system as “unfair” and not in the best interest of passengers.
How will the new rule benefit you
Under this new rule, which will come into effect in January, you will no longer need to cancel your ticket and pay a cancellation fee. You can change the travel date of your confirmed ticket online. This will save you time and money. The minister clarified that there will be no guarantee of getting a confirmed ticket under the new policy; it will depend entirely on seat availability. According to an NDTV report, if the fare on the new date is higher, passengers will have to pay the difference.
Current Cancellation Charges
On Indian Railways, the cancellation charges for train tickets depend on the ticket class and the date of cancellation. This charge was a major financial burden for passengers.
Cancellation charges on confirmed tickets (example):
Minimum flat rates: ₹60 for second class and ₹180 + GST for AC 3-tier/AC chair car.
Up to 48 hours before: Cancellations made up to 48 hours before the train’s departure were subject to a 25% fare deduction.
Within 48 hours: Cancellations made within 48 hours of departure were subject to a 50% fare deduction.
Waiting List (WL) and RAC tickets also had different charges. However, tickets remaining on the waiting list even after chart preparation were eligible for a full refund. Now, this rescheduling facility will completely transform this cumbersome process. The Railway Minister has issued instructions to implement passenger-friendly changes that will further improve railway services.