Train Ticket Refund Procedures

Train Ticket Refund Procedures

Indian Railways has a detailed process for train ticket cancellation and refund claims. In this post, you will find complete information about train ticket cancellations, refund eligibility, cancellation charges, and refund procedures, explained in an easy-to-understand question-and-answer format.

• Can I get a refund across the counter?
  • Yes.If the ticket is surrendered for cancellation within the prescribed time limit, the refund can be obtained across the counter.

Refund Time Limits

• What is the refund rule for a confirmed reserved ticket?
  • The ticket must be cancelled up to 4 hours before the train’s scheduled departure. No refund is granted after that.
• What is the refund rule for RAC/Waitlisted/Partially Confirmed tickets?
  • The ticket can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train.
• What if the train departs between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM?
  • A refund can be claimed within 2 hours of the reservation office opening if no current counters are available at the originating station.

Missing the Prescribed Time Limit

• What should I do if I miss the refund time limit?
  • You may file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) and apply for a refund within 10 days of the journey date.
• Who should receive the refund application?
  • The application should be submitted to the Chief Commercial Manager (Refunds) of the concerned railway administration.
• How long after departure can a TDR be issued?
  • A TDR can be issued up to 3 days after the scheduled departure of the train.

Unable to Approach Railway Authorities

• What if I cannot approach the railway authorities personally?
• In exceptional cases, a TDR may be obtained by submitting an application in the prescribed format.

Refund Processing

• How is the refund application processed?
  • The Refund Officer examines the case and, if approved, sends the refund through Station Pay Order, Money Order, or Crossed Cheque.
• Within how many days should the refund application be submitted?
  • Within 10 days from the date of journey.

Refund Amount

• Will I receive the full ticket amount as a refund?
  • No. Cancellation charges are deducted before the refund is issued.
• Are cancellation charges deducted for RAC/Waitlisted tickets?
  • Yes, cancellation charges are deducted as per railway rules.

RAC / Waitlisted Ticket Refund

• What is the refund rule for RAC/Waitlisted tickets?
  • If the ticket is cancelled up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train, the fare is refunded after deducting the clerkage charge per passenger.

Tickets for Multiple Journey Legs

• How is a ticket with multiple journey legs treated for refund purposes?
  • If the first leg is confirmed, the entire ticket is treated as a confirmed ticket. If the first leg is on the waiting list, the whole ticket is treated as a waitlisted ticket for refund purposes.

Counter Tickets Booked Through IRCTC

• Can reserved counter tickets be cancelled online through IRCTC?
  • Yes. Certain reserved counter tickets can be cancelled online through the IRCTC website.
• Which tickets are eligible for online cancellation?
  • Confirmed, RAC, and waitlisted counter tickets booked through IRCTC are eligible, subject to prescribed time limits.

Refund Collection for Online Cancellation

• How can I collect the refund after cancelling a counter ticket online?
  • The refund can be collected at the reservation counter as per railway rules.
• When can I collect the refund if the ticket is cancelled more than 24 hours before departure?
  • Refund can be collected by submitting the original PRS counter ticket at least 4 hours before departure for confirmed tickets and up to 30 minutes before departure for RAC/Waitlisted tickets.
• When can I collect the refund if the ticket is cancelled between 24 hours and 4 hours before departure?
  • Refund can be collected at the journey commencing station or nearby satellite locations designated by Zonal Railways.
• Can I collect the refund the next day if the train departs between 6:01 PM and 6:00 AM?
  • Yes. Refund can be collected during the first two hours of PRS counter opening on the next day.
• Is there any time limit to collect the refund?
  • Yes. Refund must be collected within the prescribed time period; otherwise, it will not be granted.

Travelling in a Lower Class

• Can I claim a refund if I had to travel in a lower class than booked?
  • Yes. The fare difference can be refunded if you obtain a certificate from the ticket checking staff and submit the claim within 2 days of issue of the certificate (excluding the date of issue).

Reserved Ticket but No Accommodation

• Can I get a refund if I had a reserved ticket but was not provided accommodation?
  • Yes. You are entitled to a full refund without deductions if the ticket is surrendered within 3 hours after the train’s actual departure from the journey-originating station.

Late Running Trains

• Can I get a refund if I decide not to travel because the train is running late?
  • Yes. You can claim a full refund without deductions if the ticket is surrendered before the actual departure of the train.
• Can I claim a refund if I miss my onward connection because my train was delayed?
  • Yes. After deducting the fare for the travelled portion, the balance fare will be refunded if the ticket is surrendered within 3 hours of the delayed train’s actual arrival.

Train Cancellation

• Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled?
  • Yes. Full fare is refunded if the train is cancelled due to accidents, breaches, floods, or similar reasons.
• What is the time limit to claim a refund for a cancelled train?
  • The ticket must be surrendered within 3 days of the scheduled departure of the train.

Partial Confirmation

• What if some passengers on the ticket are confirmed and others are waitlisted?
  • Refund is granted for the waitlisted passengers after deducting clerkage charges, provided the ticket is cancelled up to 30 minutes before departure.

Lost Tickets

• Can I get a refund if I lose my ticket?
  • No refund is allowed on a lost ticket.
• What should I do if my ticket is lost?
  • Apply for a duplicate ticket and immediately inform the Reservation Office to prevent fraudulent refund claims.

Duplicate Ticket Refund

• How much does a duplicate ticket cost?
  • If the loss of your Confirmed/RAC ticket is reported before the preparation of the Reservation Chart, a duplicate ticket will be issued on collection of Rs.50 per passenger for second and Sleeper class and Rs.100 per passenger for other classes. In case of the loss of your confirmed ticket is reputed after preparation of the Reservation Chart, a duplicate ticket will be issued on collection of 50% of the fare. No duplicate ticket will be prepared after preparation of Reservation chart in case of RAC tickets. The charge depends on the class and ticket type. For confirmed RAC tickets, duplicate tickets are issued on payment of prescribed charges as per railway rules.

• Can I travel using a duplicate ticket?
  • Yes. Once issued, the duplicate ticket is treated as a valid travel ticket.

Cancellation Charges

• What is the flat cancellation charge for AC First Class/Executive Class?
  • ₹240 per passenger.
• What is the flat cancellation charge for AC 2-Tier/First Class?
  • ₹200 per passenger.
• What is the flat cancellation charge for AC 3-Tier/AC Chair Car?
  • ₹180 per passenger.
• What is the flat cancellation charge for AC 3 Economy?
  • ₹120 per passenger.
• What is the flat cancellation charge for Sleeper Class?
  • ₹120 per passenger.
• What is the flat cancellation charge for Second Class?
  • ₹60 per passenger.

Cancellation Before Departure

• What happens if a confirmed ticket is cancelled more than 48 hours before departure?**
  • Only the applicable flat cancellation charge is deducted.
• What happens if a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure?**
  • 25% of the fare is deducted, subject to the minimum cancellation charge.
• What happens if a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure?**
  • 50% of the fare is deducted, subject to the minimum cancellation charge.
• Can a confirmed ticket be cancelled less than 4 hours before departure?**
  • No refund is generally admissible after the prescribed cancellation time limit.

Failure During Journey

• Can I claim a refund if the AC fails during the journey?
  • Yes. Passengers travelling in air-conditioned classes can claim a refund if the AC fails and remains non-functional for a certain distance.
• When should the refund for AC failure be claimed?
  • The claim should be submitted immediately at the end of the journey or within 20 hours of the train’s arrival at the destination.
• What documents are required to claim a refund for AC failure?
  • The original ticket and a certificate issued by the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE).

Duplicate Ticket Charges

• Are duplicate ticket charges refundable if I find my original ticket later?
  • Yes. If the original ticket is found and produced along with the duplicate ticket before the train’s departure, the duplicate ticket charges will be refunded.
• Will the full duplicate ticket charge be refunded?
  • No. A deduction of 5% of the fare is made, subject to a minimum deduction of ₹20.

Torn or Mutilated Tickets

• Can I get a duplicate ticket if my ticket is torn or mutilated?
• Yes, subject to certain conditions.
• What is the rule for a torn or mutilated confirmed/RAC ticket?
• A duplicate ticket may be issued after collecting 25% of the fare if the reservation chart has already been prepared.
• What if the reservation chart has not yet been prepared?
• A duplicate ticket may be issued on payment of the normal duplicate ticket fee.
• Can a duplicate ticket be issued for a mutilated waitlisted ticket?
• No. Duplicate tickets are not issued for mutilated waitlisted tickets.
• Can a refund be claimed for a torn or mutilated ticket?
• Refund is generally not admissible. However, the ticket’s genuineness and authenticity may be verified based on the visible details on the ticket.

Clerkage Charges

• What is a clerkage charge?
• Clerkage is a service charge deducted when a fare is refunded on cancellation of unreserved, waitlisted, or RAC tickets.
• How much is the clerkage charge?
• The clerkage charge is ₹60 per passenger for second-class unreserved tickets. Charges for other ticket categories are as per railway rules.

Unused Unreserved Tickets

• How much refund is given for surrendering an unused unreserved ticket?
• The full fare is refunded after deducting the applicable clerkage charge per passenger.
• When should an unused unreserved ticket be surrendered for a refund?
• The ticket must be surrendered:
• Within 3 hours of its issue, or
• If booked in advance, up to 24 hours before the day of journey.
• Where should the unused unreserved ticket be surrendered?
• The ticket should be surrendered to the Station Master or the designated railway official for cancellation and refund processing.

• Train Tickets Current Booking Process