railway ticket refund policy: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced these major reforms regarding the railway ticketing system and passenger amenities on Tuesday. He stated that passengers will no longer receive a refund if they cancel their tickets within eight hours of the train’s departure. This change-an extension of the previous four-hour cutoff-has been implemented to ensure greater transparency for passengers. The new rule is scheduled to come into effect between April 1 and April 15, 2026.
Additionally, new facilities have been introduced for changing boarding points and upgrading travel classes. The ticketing process for passengers has now been made simpler,(railway ticket refund policy) more transparent, and more secure-changes that are set to benefit travelers significantly.
No Refund for Cancellations
Alongside this, changes have also been made to other refund slabs. Now, for cancellations made between 24 and 8 hours prior to departure, 50 percent of the ticket price will be deducted. Previously, this window was set between 12 and 4 hours. A 25 percent deduction will apply to cancellations made between 72 and 24 hours before departure, while the full ticket price will be refunded for cancellations made more than 72 hours in advance. In the latter instance, the railways will levy only a flat service charge from the passenger.
Indian Railways Revises Cancellation and Boarding Rules
The Railway Minister explained that the new refund policy has been implemented to curb black marketing and prevent agents from engaging in last-minute ticket bookings. This rule is already in force for the Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II trains, which commenced operations in January 2026. He also extended the facility for class upgrades to passengers purchasing tickets at reservation counters. Passengers will now be able to upgrade their travel class up to 30 minutes prior to the train’s scheduled departure.