Indian Railways has recently made several significant changes in its ticket booking rules. These changes have been made aimed at increasing the convenience of passengers and making the train travel more convenient. Under these rules, passengers with waiting tickets will no longer be allowed to travel in sleeper and AC coaches. Apart from this, the ticket booking period has also been reduced, which will make it easier for passengers to plan their journey.
The purpose of these changes is to provide better facilities to the passengers and reduce congestion in trains. Railways have also promoted digital ticketing, so that passengers can easily book tickets from their mobile phones.
Ticket booking rules updated
According to the new rules of Indian Railways, travelers will have to face many significant changes. The details of these rules are as follows:
| Speciality | Description |
| Applied date | 1 March 2025 |
| Waiting ticket rules | Waiting tickets will be valid only in general coaches |
| Booking period | Ticket booking period reduced from 120 days to 60 days |
| Tatakal Ticket Booking | AC Tatakal Ticket Booking at 10 am, Non-AC Tatkal Ticket Booking from 11 am |
| Refund policy | Refund will be available on train cancellation or delay of more than 3 hours |
| Seat allocation | Use of AI-Based Seat Allocation |
New rules on waiting tickets
Now passengers with waiting tickets will not be able to travel in sleeper and AC coaches. They will be allowed only to travel in general coaches. If a passenger is found in a reservation coach with waiting tickets, he will have to pay a fine and land at the next station.
Facilities for general ticket passengers
Indian Railways has also introduced several facilities for general ticket passengers. Now passengers can book paperless tickets through the UTS app. This facility is particularly beneficial for those passengers who travel by train daily.
Benefits of digital ticketing
- Get rid of long lines: Now passengers will not need to stand in long lines at the station.
- Digital Payments: Passengers can pay through UPI, Debit/Credit Card and other online mediums.
- Environmental protection: paperless ticketing will reduce paper consumption, which will benefit the environment.
Change in ticket booking period
Indian Railways has reduced the ticket booking period from 120 days to 60 days. This change will help passengers to plan their journey and reduce the problem of waiting list. This will also reduce the number of no-show passengers, so that the seats will be allotted correctly.
Tatakal Ticket Booking Rules
Now booking of AC Tatakal ticket will start from 10 am and non-AC Tatkal ticket booking will start from 11 am. This change will help passengers to plan their journey and make the ticket booking process more efficient.
Changes in refund policy
Indian Railways has also changed the refund policy. Now if a train is canceled or runs late more than 3 hours, then passengers will get completely refund. This rule will help passengers to protect from financial loss.
AI-based seat allocation
Railways has started using AI-Based Seat Allocation, which will provide better facilities to passengers with confirmed tickets. This technology will make the allocation of seats more efficient and transparent, which will increase the chances of passengers to get seats of their choice.
Impact of new rules
It is important to know what these new rules will affect the passengers. These rules will help passengers to provide better facilities as well as reduce congestion in trains.
Facilities and challenges
- Facilities: Digital ticketing, low booking period, and better seat allocation.
- Challenges: Passengers with waiting tickets will not be allowed to travel in sleeper and AC coaches, causing them to face some problems.
conclusion
The new rules of Indian Railways have brought many facilities for the passengers, but there are some challenges. The purpose of these rules is to provide better experience to passengers and make the train travel more convenient. Passengers will be required to be aware of these rules and follow them.
Disclaimer: This article provides information about the new rules of Indian Railways. This information is based on real and official sources, but we are not responsible for any kind of error or change. Passengers should always get information from the official website or railway office.
