In a move aimed at making train travel more flexible and passenger-friendly, Indian Railways is preparing to roll out a new feature that will allow travellers to reschedule their confirmed tickets without paying any cancellation fees, according to a Times Now report.
The initiative, which is expected to be implemented through the IRCTC portal, will let passengers modify the travel date of their confirmed tickets and pay only the fare difference, if applicable.
Currently, there is no option to rescedule train tickets forcing passengers to cancel their confirmed tickets. The Railways also put a hefty fee on cancellation of tickets that ranges between 25% and 50% of the ticket cost depending on the class of travel and timing of cancellation. In cases where a train is missed, no refund is offered — even if the delay is due to unavoidable reasons such as a late flight, adverse weather, or emergencies.
The upcoming feature seeks to end this problem by giving passengers the option to simply reschedule instead of canceling. Users will be able to log in to the IRCTC website or mobile app, select their booked ticket, and choose a new travel date or train, subject to seat availability. Only the difference in fare, if any, will need to be paid.
This flexibility will especially benefit frequent and long-distance travellers who rely heavily on Indian Railways. Currently, if a confirmed ticket is canceled within 24 hours of departure, 25% of the fare is forfeited, and if canceled within four hours of the journey, no refund is issued at all.
Globally, several countries already offer such flexible travel options. Japan’s Rail Pass allows passengers to board multiple trains without rescheduling, while European nations and the UK provide flexible fares that permit changes or refunds within certain deadlines.
With this initiative, Indian Railways is moving toward international standards of passenger convenience. Though an official rollout date hasn’t been announced yet, reports suggest the new system could be introduced early next year as part of the Railways’ broader modernization drive.
