Indian Railways Rule Change: Every day, millions of people across the country travel by train. To travel by train, tickets typically need to be booked a month in advance. During train journeys, sleeper coaches are often overcrowded. While travelling by train, you may have frequently noticed passengers who, out of sheer necessity, are compelled to sit outside the restrooms during their journey.
However, the Railway Board has now decided to implement a major change to the waiting ticket system, effective June 1, 2026. This decision is expected to significantly reduce overcrowding on trains. Many people currently travel by train with only a waiting ticket.
Restrictions Imposed on Waiting Tickets!
According to the new rules issued by the Railway Board, the number of waiting tickets issued will now be capped. Previously, up to approximately 400 waiting tickets could be booked in Sleeper Class; however, this limit has now been reduced to 30% of the total seating capacity. On average, no train will issue more than 150 to 200 waiting tickets.
Similarly, in AC coaches—where up to 300 waiting tickets were previously issued—the limit has now been restricted to just 60% of the total seating capacity.
Passengers Can Look Forward to a Comfortable Journey
The Railways states that passengers holding confirmed reserved tickets will now experience significant relief. Currently, the situation often involves passengers with waiting tickets boarding AC and Sleeper coaches, resulting in severe overcrowding in the compartments. Consequently, passengers holding confirmed reserved tickets face considerable difficulties during their journey.
Crackdown on Ticket touts (Brokers)
According to railway experts, ticket touts (brokers) previously booked a large number of waiting tickets in bulk, then claimed they could get them confirmed for passengers in exchange for extra money. Under the new regulations, passengers holding waiting tickets will *not* be permitted to travel inside AC or Sleeper coaches. If any passenger violates this rule, the TTE (Ticket Examiner) is authorised to impose a fine on them.
Meanwhile, on a separate front, the Railways’ new AI-based fraud detection model is also set to prove highly beneficial for the public. This system has become so smart that if you make a booking in less than a second, the AI will recognise that it was executed by a machine, not a human. Furthermore, the security layers of Aadhaar verification and OTP will make instant bookings even more secure.
