Under this new initiative, passengers can modify the date of their confirmed tickets through the IRCTC website or app and will only need to pay the fare difference, if applicable.
IRCTC Big Updates: Good news for train travelers ahead of the festive season. According to the reports, the Indian Railways is going to introduce a new feature that promises to change the travelling experiences of the passengers. Travellers will be able to change their travel date without any cancellation charges. Under this new initiative, passengers can modify the date of their confirmed tickets through the IRCTC website or app and will only need to pay the fare difference, if applicable.
What are the current rules?
It’s important to note that at present, passengers who miss their train are not entitled to any refund. Whether it’s because of a delay, bad weather, or an emergency, the entire fare is forfeited. Additionally, if a ticket is cancelled before the journey, a cancellation fee is charged depending on the class of travel and the time of cancellation. This fee is usually 25 percent to 50 percent of the ticket price, and in some cases, the passenger may lose the entire fare.
As per the Times of India report, under this new facility, instead of canceling tickets and paying fines, passengers will have the option to change their travel date. Passengers can log in to the IRCTC website or app, select their booked ticket, and choose a different journey date or another train, provided seats are available. They will only need to pay the fare difference for this.
Currently, if a train is missed, the entire fare is lost, and a cancellation fee is charged for changing plans. With the new system, passengers will be able to change their travel date without losing money.
In which countries does such a facility exist?
Many countries around the world already have such a flexible ticketing system. In countries like Japan, Europe, and the United Kingdom, passengers are allowed to change trains or claim refunds.
