Trains: cancellation to cost double

In an attempt to limit the misuse of ticketing activity and discourage touts from black-marketing tickets, the Ministry of Railways has made amendments in booking and refund rules from November 12, 2015.

The Ministry of Railways has made a few amendments in the booking and refund rules, in order to curb the misuse of ticketing activity. Starting November 12, you can book a railway ticket online 30 minutes prior to the departure of a train. The reservation chart will now be prepared twice – the first reservation chart would be prepared four hours prior to departure of a train while second and final one, 30 minutes before the train departs.

Furthermore, new refund rules have also been applied for railway ticket cancellations. Cancelling tickets upto 48 hours before scheduled departure of the train will result in double fee charge and the refund can be applied four hours before the departure.

The new cancellation rates applicable 48 hours before departure are as follows: 1st AC/executive class: ` ` 240; 2AC/1st class: 200;

` 3AC/ACC/3A economy: 180;

` second sleeper class: 120;

` second class: 60.

For waitlisted tickets and reserve against cancellation (RAC), one has to avail the refund upto 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train. There will be no refund after that.

Now, cancellation between 48 hours and 12 hours before the scheduled departure of the train will be charged 25 per cent of the ticket amount and 50 per cent between 12 hours and four hours before the scheduled departure of the train. Additionally, railways have also decided to enable certain unreserved ticket counters to allow refund of reserved tickets.