New Delhi: Starting this Friday, Nov 13, Indian Railways changed train ticket cancellation charges and revised refund options.
While ticket cancellation charges have been doubled, refund options will be available only till four hours before the scheduled departure of a train.
A senior official of Indian Railways was quoted as saying, “There will be no refund after the departure of a train and one has to get the refund four hours before the scheduled departure as per the revised refund rules.”
Speaking about the new changes in the system, the officer also added, “The rules were revised to discourage touts and ticketing agents who engage in black marketing of tickets.”
What are the new changes in the system:
- Indian Railways will not refund money if anyone cancels train ticket(s) after the departure of the particular train.
- If anyone wants to get the refund, then customer(s) needs to cancel tickets minimum 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure timing of the train.
- If anyone cancels second class ticket (confirmed) before 48 hours of the journey, then he/she will be charged Rs 60. Earlier the amount was Rs 30.For a Third-AC ticket will cost Rs 180 as against the earlier Rs 90.
- Rules are different for waitlisted and reserve against cancellation (RAC) tickets.
- Refund for cancellation of waitlisted and RAC tickets will be available only half-an-hour before the scheduled departure of the train.
- No refund will be available after the departure of the particular train.
- For 2nd Sleeper Class, ticket cancellation charge has been increased from Rs 60 to Rs 120.
- For Second AC, ticket cancellation charge has been increased from Rs 100 to Rs 200.
- A few unreserved ticket counters also will be enabled to allow refund of reserved ticket.
Earlier, between 48 hours and 6 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation fee was 25 per cent of the ticket. Now, the charge will be 25 per cent of the ticket for cancellation between 48 hours and 12 hours before the scheduled departure of a train.
Also, from 6 hours before the scheduled departure of a train and up to 2 hours after the actual departure of the train, cancellation fee was 50 per cent of the ticket. However, the revised rules stipulate that between 12 hours and 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation fee will be 50 per cent of the ticket.