Railways introduces huge change: No money loss on train ticket cancellation

NEW DELHI: Until now, passengers had to pay a high cancellation fee when cancelling a confirmed train ticket. If their travel plans changed, cancelling the ticket was the only option. However, the Indian Railways is now planning a major change in this system. From January 2026, passengers will not have to pay any cancellation fee when cancelling a ticket.

Under the new system, passengers will be able to change their travel date without losing any money. If someone wants to postpone their journey after booking a ticket, they will soon be able to do so online, free of charge, according to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He revealed this in an interview with a national media outlet.

However, changing the travel date will still depend on seat availability in the new train. The minister said the decision was made because passengers were unhappy with the current system, which charges a heavy fee for cancellations—especially for long-distance journeys. The new system will be most beneficial for frequent travellers and those who often have to change their plans at the last minute.

Currently, according to the cancellation rules, if a ticket is cancelled between 48 and 12 hours before departure, 25% of the fare is deducted as a fee. If cancelled between 12 and 4 hours before departure, the penalty is higher. After the reservation chart is prepared, passengers do not receive any refund for cancellations.