Indian Railways Cuts Advance Ticket Booking Period from 120 to 60 Days
Indian Railways Cuts Advance Ticket Booking Period from 120 to 60 Days
Starting Friday, November 1, the Indian Railways has reduced the advance reservation period for train tickets from 120 days to 60 days.
Under the new rules, passengers can now book tickets up to 60 days before their travel date. This change, announced by Southern Railway through a post on X (formerly Twitter), aims to streamline the booking process and reduce issues like ticket cancellations and no-shows.
🗓️ Plan your train journeys wisely!
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) November 1, 2024
Starting today, the advance reservation period for tickets is reduced to 60 days.
Stay informed and make the most of your travels!🚆✨#SouthernRailway #IndianRailways #RailwayUpdate #TrainTravel #AdvanceBooking #TravelTips pic.twitter.com/Cph6voSjg3
Key Highlights of the New Ticketing Rules
1. 60-Day Advance Reservation Window: Domestic passengers will now have a shorter window for advance bookings, down from the previous 120 days. This change is expected to reduce ticket cancellations and prevent instances where passengers don’t travel despite holding valid tickets.
2. No Impact on General-Class Tickets: The changes apply only to reserved seats, with no impact on general-class ticket purchases.
3. Existing Bookings Unaffected: Passengers who have already booked tickets will not face any changes. The 365-day reservation policy for foreign tourists also remains unchanged.
4. Anti-Ticket Hoarding Measures: The shortened booking period aims to curb mass ticket hoarding by agents and non-travelers, allowing genuine passengers better access to seats.
According to Indian Railways, around 21% of tickets booked between 61 and 120 days in advance were being canceled, leading to inefficiencies in seat allocation. Furthermore, about 5% of passengers neither canceled their tickets nor boarded, contributing to the “no-show” trend. The new policy will help the Railways better predict demand and optimize train schedules, especially during peak travel seasons.
To handle the passenger rush during the festive season, the Indian Railways has introduced additional trains. Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, stated that over 160 special trains were operated yesterday, with more than 170 scheduled for today. These trains are primarily serving routes to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for Chhath Puja travelers.
To manage the crowds, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railways Protection Force (RPF) have been deployed at various stations. Rail Sewaks are also on-site to assist passengers and provide travel information.
The new reservation policy, along with the seasonal arrangements, reflects Indian Railways’ efforts to enhance convenience for passengers while ensuring efficient train operations.
