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The Indian Railways is planning a major passenger-friendly reform that could change how people travel across the country. Soon, passengers will be able to reschedule their confirmed train tickets without paying any cancellation charges.
According to a report by Times Now, the new feature will be available through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) portal. Travellers will be able to change their travel date and pay only the difference in fare, if applicable. This move aims to make train journeys more flexible, convenient, and affordable, especially for passengers whose travel plans often change at the last minute.
Currently, passengers lose their money if they miss a train. Even in cases of genuine delays due to bad weather, flight issues, or emergencies, the fare is forfeited. When cancelling a confirmed ticket, a portion of the fare, between 25% and 50%, depending on the class and timing, is deducted as a cancellation fee. If the ticket is canceled just a few hours before departure, passengers may not get any refund at all.
The upcoming system promises to change this. Instead of canceling the ticket and losing money, passengers will be able to log in to the IRCTC website or app, open their booked ticket, and choose a new travel date or train, as long as seats are available. They will only need to pay the fare difference.
Countries like Japan and the UK already offer flexible ticketing systems. For instance, Japan’s Rail Pass allows travellers to take most trains anytime, and the UK’s “Anytime” ticket lets passengers board any train on their chosen route.
The Indian Railways initiative is part of its larger modernisation and passenger experience improvement drive. Though an official launch date has not yet been confirmed, reports suggest the no-cancellation fee feature could be introduced early next year.
Once implemented, the system will make train travel more flexible and stress-free.
Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
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