IRCTC’s New No-Cancellation-Fee Tickets: Everything You Need To Know

Indian Railways is set to introduce a flexible ticketing system that allows confirmed ticket holders to change their travel date without incurring any cancellation charges.

The new feature, to be implemented through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) portal and mobile app, will enable travellers to modify their journey plans by paying only the difference in fare, if applicable, making train travel more adaptable and cost-efficient.

The initiative marks a significant shift in how Indian Railways handles passenger cancellations and rescheduling. For the first time, travellers will have the option to reschedule their confirmed ticket instead of cancelling it.

Once rolled out, the feature will allow passengers to log into their IRCTC account, select an existing confirmed booking, and choose a different date or train, subject to seat availability.

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Instead of losing a portion of the fare to cancellation penalties, passengers will now only be required to pay the difference between the original fare and the new one if the fare for the revised train or date is higher.

Currently, passengers who cancel their confirmed tickets before departure are charged cancellation fees that can range from 25% to 50% of the ticket price, depending on travel class and timing. In many cases, those who miss their train or cancel within four hours of departure lose the entire fare with no refund at all.

Under the upcoming system, this will change drastically. Passengers will have the freedom to modify their plans without incurring heavy losses, making train travel more flexible, practical, and passenger-centric.

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According to reports, once the feature is live:

• Passengers can log in to the IRCTC website or app.

• Select their booked ticket under the “My Bookings” section.

• Choose a new date or train for travel.

• Pay only the fare difference, if any, to confirm the revised booking.

This functionality will be applicable only for confirmed tickets and subject to seat availability on the new train or date. The system will automatically handle fare calculations and display the applicable amount before confirmation.

This reform is expected to benefit millions of passengers who rely on Indian Railways for intercity and long-distance travel. Missing a train due to sudden schedule changes, delayed flights, or emergencies currently results in a complete loss of fare, while cancellations lead to partial deductions.