If you also travel by trains often, then this news is for you. Train ticket booking platform IRCTC has changed many rules from ticket booking to refund and luggage from May 1, 2025.
Train travel in India is the simplest and most affordable for the common people. The purpose of IRCTC behind the change in the rules of train ticket booking is to stop fraud in ticket booking. Today we will tell you what changes have been made in the new rules of IRCTC.
While booking tickets from IRCTC website or app, passengers will now get an OTP on their mobile number. Until you verify this OTP, you will not be able to go to the payment page. This rule will apply to all passengers whether you have registered on IRCTC earlier or not. Its purpose is to ensure that the ticket is booked by the right passenger only. Apart from this, security and privacy can be further strengthened.
From May 1, the advance train ticket booking period has been reduced to 90 days. That is, now any passenger will be able to book tickets for travel only 90 days in advance. This rule has come into effect from May 1, although this rule will not apply to festival and special trains.
Under the new rules, the Railways has made the refund policy easier. Earlier it used to take 5 to 7 days to return the money of the canceled ticket, but now the refund will come to your account in just 48 hours i.e. 2 days. This facility is available for both tickets booked online and from the counter.
Railway tickets will now be valid only for the same day and the same train, which is written on the ticket. If you have booked an e-ticket, then it is not necessary to take a print out of it. You can travel by showing the ticket on the mobile itself.
If you have canceled a confirmed ticket 48 hours before the train departs, then different charges will have to be paid according to the coach. For First AC or Executive Class, a cancellation charge of Rs 240 will have to be paid. While the cancellation charge will be Rs 200 for 2AC or First Class, Rs 180 for 3A, Rs 120 for Sleeper Class and Rs 60 for Second Class.
Railways has also brought a new rule for those with waiting tickets. If you have a waiting list ticket, you will not be able to travel in Sleeper or AC coach from May 1. That means now there will be no exemption for traveling without a confirmed ticket.
