New Delhi: In a major relief for train passengers, the Indian Railways has announced a new policy that will soon allow travellers to change the travel date of their confirmed tickets online without paying any additional fees. The initiative, which will come into effect from January 2025, aims to make train travel more flexible and passenger-friendly.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in an interview with NDTV, said the new system is being introduced to address the long-standing inconvenience faced by passengers who are currently forced to cancel their tickets and rebook if their travel plans change.
Under the existing rules, passengers who cancel confirmed tickets face hefty deductions and uncertainty over availability when trying to rebook on a different date.
Current system penalises passengers
At present, passengers wishing to modify their travel dates must cancel their existing tickets and book a fresh one, which often results in a financial loss.
As per the Indian Railways refund rules, if a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 and 12 hours before the scheduled departure, 25% of the fare is deducted as a cancellation charge. The penalty increases for cancellations between 12 and 4 hours before the journey. Once the reservation chart is prepared, no refund is issued.
This policy has long been criticised by passengers for being both costly and inconvenient, especially when last-minute changes are unavoidable.
Date change option at no extra cost
Minister Vaishnaw said that starting January, passengers will be able to reschedule their confirmed tickets online, choosing a new date for the same journey without incurring any additional charge.
“The current system was unfair and not in the best interest of passengers,” Vaishnaw said. “Instructions have been issued to railway authorities to ensure the smooth rollout of the new policy.”
However, he clarified that the date change will be subject to seat availability. In cases where the fare for the new journey is higher, the passenger will need to pay the fare difference, but no separate penalty will be imposed.
Benefits for millions of passengers
The move is expected to benefit millions of passengers across India who frequently face the challenge of rescheduling travel plans. The change will also reduce the number of cancellations and refund claims the Railways has to process each year, streamlining administrative work.
Experts say the decision aligns with the government’s broader push to digitise railway services and make them more responsive to passenger needs.
“This is a major passenger-centric reform,” said a senior Railways official. “It reduces the financial burden on travellers and eliminates the uncertainty of cancellations, especially for those who travel frequently for work or emergencies.”
Challenges in implementation
While the policy is seen as a positive step, some technical and operational challenges are expected during implementation. Railways officials are currently working to upgrade the IRCTC booking system to accommodate online date changes and ensure seamless integration with the existing reservation database.
Minister Vaishnaw acknowledged that confirmed seat availability cannot be guaranteed under the new system. “Passengers will still need to check for available seats on their desired date,” he said, adding that the process will be designed to be as transparent and convenient as possible.
Aadhaar verification for online bookings
The new announcement follows another significant policy change. From October 1, Aadhaar verification has become mandatory for booking tickets online through IRCTC.
According to the new rule, only Aadhaar-authenticated IRCTC accounts can book reserved general tickets in the first 15 minutes after the reservation window opens. The measure is aimed at curbing misuse of multiple accounts and ensuring fair ticket access for genuine travellers.
Towards a more digital and passenger-friendly Railways
With both these reforms, the Indian Railways is taking significant steps towards modernising its services. The ability to reschedule confirmed tickets online — a feature long available in airline bookings — is being hailed as a progressive move that brings the Railways closer to global travel standards.
Industry observers say that such initiatives could boost passenger satisfaction and strengthen the Railways’ image as a modern, tech-enabled public service provider.
As Minister Vaishnaw summed up, “The goal is simple — to make the Indian Railways experience flexible, affordable, and user-friendly for every citizen.”