Indian Railways boasts the fourth largest railway network in the world, serving over 25 million passengers daily. However, due to long waiting lists and the unavailability of confirmed tickets, travelers often find themselves needing to cancel their bookings. Did you know that canceling a ticket does not guarantee a full refund? Let’s dive into the cancellation policies set by IRCTC to understand what you can expect.
Refund Rules for Confirmed Tickets
If your ticket is confirmed and you decide to cancel it, the timing of your cancellation will determine the refund amount. Here’s how it works:
Cancellation Fee Structure:
- If you cancel your ticket more than 48 hours before the train’s departure:
You will be charged a cancellation fee based on your ticket class:- AC First/Executive Class: ₹240 + GST
- First Class/AC 2 Tier: ₹200 + GST
- Sleeper Class: ₹200 + GST
- Second Class: ₹60
Ticket Cancellation Fees Based on Timing
- Cancellation Between 48-12 Hours:
- If you cancel your ticket between 48 and 12 hours before the train departs, a deduction of 25% of the ticket fare plus GST will apply for AC classes.
- Cancellation Between 12-4 Hours:
- Canceling within 12 to 4 hours before the scheduled departure incurs a penalty of 50% of the fare plus GST for AC class tickets.
- Cancellation Within 4 Hours:
- If you cancel your ticket within 4 hours of departure, no refund will be issued.
- RAC Tickets:
- For Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) tickets, cancellation does not guarantee a refund.
RAC Ticket Cancellation Rules
RAC stands for Reservation Against Cancellation. If your RAC ticket is still not confirmed, you can cancel it up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure. Here’s how the charges work:
- You will incur a charge of ₹60 plus GST, and the remaining amount will be refunded.
- If you try to cancel within 30 minutes of the train’s departure, no refund will be provided.
If your RAC ticket is confirmed, the cancellation policies for confirmed tickets will apply.
Understanding these cancellation rules can help you make informed decisions about your travel plans. Keep these guidelines in mind to avoid any surprises when you need to cancel your IRCTC ticket!
