Railway Rules Update: Why The Railways Changed The Advance Ticket Booking Period

Just ahead of Diwali, the Indian Railways has made a significant change in its advance ticket booking policy. Passengers will now be able to book train tickets 60 days in advance, rather than the previous 120 days. This new rule will come into effect from November 1, 2024. But why has the Railways introduced this change, and are there any exceptions? Let’s explore the reasons behind this decision and understand which trains are exempt from the new rule.

Changes in Advance Booking Rules

Starting from November 1, 2024, passengers can only book tickets 60 days before their journey, excluding the date of travel. The old rule, which allowed ticket booking up to 120 days in advance, will remain in effect until October 31, 2024.

Exceptions to the New Rule

The Railways has clarified that this new 60-day booking rule will not apply to certain special trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, where the booking rules will remain unchanged. Additionally, foreign tourists will continue to enjoy the facility of booking tickets up to 365 days in advance, and the new rule will not affect them.

Reasons Behind the Change: Curbing Black Marketing

According to the Railways, only 13% of passengers currently book their tickets 120 days in advance, with most passengers booking tickets 45 days before their journey. The long advance booking period often leads to a higher rate of ticket cancellations and refunds. This extended window has also been exploited for black marketing, causing inconvenience to genuine passengers. The new rule aims to reduce these issues and make the booking process more efficient and transparent.

The decision to shorten the advance booking period was taken with the growing demand for tickets during festival seasons in mind. By reducing the window, the Railways hopes to minimize ticket scalping and ensure that more passengers can secure tickets fairly.

This change is expected to improve the overall passenger experience by streamlining ticket bookings and reducing the challenges of cancellation and black marketing during peak travel times.