Advance Reservation Period for Train Ticket Booking

Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for Train Ticket Booking

To help you plan your journey well in advance, Indian Railways offers the facility of Advance Reservation. Approximately 97% of the Advance Reservation centers are computerized, allowing you to book tickets from any location to any destination. Below are the details regarding the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for various trains by Indian Railways.

Reduction in Advance Reservation Period for Train Tickets

Indian Railways has reduced the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days, effective from 01.11.2024.
This excludes the date of the journey. Further details are attached.

• The Ministry of Railways made this change to promote genuine passengers and improve visibility of actual demand for rail travel.
• About 21% of reservations made between 61 and 120 days were getting cancelled.
• Additionally, 5% of passengers were not canceling their tickets nor taking the journey, contributing to a “No Show” trend.
• The decision is expected to improve planning of special trains during peak seasons.
• It will help Indian Railways reduce the wastage of reserved berths and improve availability for genuine travelers.
• Certain daytime express trains like the Taj Express and Gomti Express will continue with lower time limits for advance reservations.
• The 365-day ARP for foreign tourists remains unchanged.
• Reservations made under the previous 120-day ARP before October 31, 2024, will remain valid.
• Tickets booked beyond the new 60-day ARP will still be eligible for cancellation.
• The new policy will help passengers have better clarity in their travel plans, reducing the 21% cancellation rate.
• It aims to reduce impersonation, fraud, and ticket hoarding.
• The Indian Railways urges passengers to be aware of the new policy and encourages early bookings within the revised 60-day window to ensure smooth travel planning.

Benefits of New Policy

• Reduces cancellation and empty seats.
• Lowers no-show rates.
• Prevents ticket fraud and impersonation
• Discourages ticket hoarding by non-travellers
• No effect on general class ticket purchase.
• Improves demand forecasting and train planning.

The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) was previously increased from 60 days to 120 days, with the change taking effect on January 1, 2015. Historically, between September 1, 1995, and January 31, 1998, the ARP was set as low as 30 days.