New Delhi: With nearly 25 million passengers travelling daily, Indian Railways offers options for those who miss their trains, yet many remain unaware of rules that can prevent their tickets from going to waste.
If you miss your train, don’t discard your ticket. For unreserved (general) tickets, passengers can board another train’s general coach within the ticket’s validity period—3 hours for short distances and 24 hours for longer journeys. This flexibility allows budget travellers to continue their plans without additional cost, provided they stick to unreserved coaches.
Reserved ticket holders, however, cannot use their tickets on another train. Attempting to board a different train with a reserved ticket risks a fine, as these tickets are specific to a train and coach. Instead, passengers can file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) to claim a refund. The TDR must be submitted online via the IRCTC website or app within four hours of the train’s scheduled departure. For counter tickets, passengers must visit a Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter within the same timeframe.
The refund process varies by ticket status. For confirmed tickets cancelled between 48 and 12 hours before departure, 25% of the base fare is deducted, while cancellations within 12 to 4 hours lose 50%. No refunds are granted for confirmed Tatkal tickets, but waitlisted Tatkal or RAC tickets qualify for refunds with a clerkage charge of ₹60–65 per passenger. Refunds, processed after at least 60 days, are credited to the original payment account.
“If you miss your train, act fast to file a TDR,” advises a railway official. “Many passengers lose money because they don’t know this option exists.” Platforms like PayZapp and redRail simplify the process, offering in-app TDR filing and real-time booking updates. However, passengers with counter tickets face challenges, as PRS counters may not be easily accessible.
The rules aim to balance passenger convenience with operational efficiency. Recent posts on X highlight public interest in these policies, with users urging greater awareness to help travellers save money. Indian Railways’ vast network relies on such measures to maintain fairness and reduce revenue loss.
As Indian Railways plans to revamp ticketing by July 2025, including earlier chart preparation and reduced clerkage charges, passengers may soon benefit from more streamlined processes. For now, knowing these rules can turn a missed train into a recoverable setback rather than a financial loss.
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