Indian Railways is a very big network and thus it has some genuine terms and conditions to work smoothly. From train routines to booking procedures, everything works under a certain method and in case of ticket money refunds and other things, certain instructions are always followed.
There is a provision of refund rules in Indian Railways and the comprehensive refund rules are notified post the year 1998. New refund rules have come to function from the year 2015.
There have been a few objectives for the new changes which have been done under the rule. They are mainly done to
- To plug the scope of misuse.
- To help and facilitate the travellers with proposed ticketing or with mobile ticketing.
- To prevent and discourage the blacker to market train tickets to the passengers.
- To initiate the process of automatic refund of e tickets in case there is a cancellation of the train departure due to some unavoidable crisis. One does not need to fill up any TDR in this case.
What are the rules?
There are some revised refund rules which are needed to be followed.
- There is a charge of clerkage per passenger in case of cancellation of any unreserved, waitlisted and RAC tickets. For unreserved classes, it is Rs. 30 and second class (reserved) it is Rs. 60 and for other classes also, it is Rs. 60.
- The cancellation charge which is valid on per passenger for confirmed tickets vary because; it all depends on the gap between the day of the cancellation and the date of journey. In case of cancellation before 48 hours of the journey, the minimum cancellation charges are:
1st class AC: Rs 120
2nd tier AC: Rs 100
3rd tier AC: Rs 90
Second Class Sleeper: Rs 60
Second Class: Rs 30
In case, it is between 48 hours and 6 hours of the journey, the cancellation charges are added 25 percent extra depending on which class the passenger was supposed to travel. If it is done between 6 hours to 2 hours before the train departure, then the cancellation charge soars up to the 50 percent rate of the actual ticket fare.
- There is no refund procedure after this and within 2 hours to train departure one can cancel the ticket but they will never get a refund.
- In case of cancelling of trains for e-tickets: Before 01.07.2015, for refund, TDR had to be filed. In the event of cancellation of trains for e tickets, with effect from 01.07.2015, refund is granted automatic. There is no need of filing of TDR. But there are not any changes for the counter PRS ticket.
Indian Railways is undoubtedly the largest network for long distance travels in India, and one can easily afford this travel as the ticket rates are priced. One can also book and cancel tickets from online websites as well and it is easy to do that by logging into the website and choosing according to the convenience.
| Rule | Pre revised (before 12.11.2015) | Revised (w.e.f. 12.11.2015) |
| 1. | Levy of clerkage per passenger for cancellation of unreserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets:- (i). Unreserved (second class): Rs. 15. (ii) Second class (reserved) and other classes: Rs. 30 |
Levy of clerkage per passenger for cancellation of unreserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets:- (i). Unreserved (second class): Rs. 30. (ii) Second class (reserved) and other classes: Rs. 60 |
| 2. | Cancellaton charge per passenger confirmed (reserved) tickets:- (i). 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train minimum cancellation charge 1st AC/executive class: Rs.120 2AC/1st Class Rs. 100 3AC/ACC/3A economy: Rs. 90 Second sleeper class: Rs. 60 Second class Rs. 30 (ii). Between 48 hours and 6 hours before the scheduled departure of the train @ 25% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above. (iii) From 6 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and upto 2 hours after the actual departure of the train @ 50% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above. (iv) No refund after the above prescribed time limit. |
Cancellation charge per passenger on confirmed (reserved) tickets:- (i). 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train minimum cancellation charge 1st AC/executive class: Rs. 240 2 AC/1st Class : Rs. 200 3AC/ACC/3A economy: Rs. 180 Second sleeper class : Rs. 120 Second class : Rs. 60 (ii). Between 48 hours and 12 hours before the scheduled departure of the train @ 25% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above. (iii) between 12 hours and 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train @ 50% subject to minimum charge as per (i) above. (iv) No refund after the above prescribed time limit. |
| 3. | Partially confirmed: Upto two hours after the actual departure of the train. | Partially confirmed: Upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train, |
| 4. | Refund on unused RAC/WL tickets: Upto 3 hours of the actual departure of the train subject to deduction in clerkage charge. No refund after the above prescribed time limit. | Refund on unused RAC/WL tickets: Upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train subject to deduction of clerkage charge. No refund after the above prescribed time limit. |
| 5. | In case of cancellation of trains for e-tickets: Before 01.07.2015, for refund, TDR had to be filed. No change for counter PRS ticket. | In case of cancellation of trains for e tickets: W. e.f. 01.07.2015, automatic refund is granted. Filing of TDR is not required. No change for counter PRS ticket. |