IRCTC Cancellation Charges

E-tickets Booked Through The IRCTC Platform - Cancellation Rules

• Cancellation of e-tickets booked through the IRCTC platform (Either the official website or mobile app) can only be done through the same.
• e-Tickets cannot be canceled through PRS counters.
• e-Tickets can be canceled only until the chart for the journey is prepared
• Typically, the first and second charts are prepared at least 4 hours and 30 minutes respectively before the train departs.
• For a train slated to start at 12:00 noon, the chart is usually prepared on the previous night.
• Cancellation of your e-ticket after chart preparation involves filling the online ticket deposit receipt or TDR.
• You have to then track the refund status
• Post confirmation of cancellation, the process for online refund will be initiated by IRCTC.
• If you want to cancel your e-tickets partially, a fresh electronic reservation slip or e-reservation slip is issued to the passenger.

Cancellation of Counter Tickets

You can cancel IRCTC tickets bought at PRS counters through three ways:

Online Method:

• To cancel your PRS counter ticket, access the official IRCTC website and furnish your ticket particulars, including train number and PNR number.
• This is allowed only if you had given a valid mobile number during the time of booking.
• You will receive the confirmation for cancellation and the refund details on the registered mobile number.
• In the case of a confirmed counter ticket, online cancellation is allowed up to 4 hours before the train departs.
• If you have a RAC/Waitlisted counter ticket, cancellation is allowed up to 30 minutes before your train is slated for departure.

Offline Method: You can visit any of the PRS counters of Indian railways and get your PRS counter tickets canceled by filling up all the required details on the cancellation requisition form.

SMS Method: You can also cancel your PRS counter ticket by dispatching an SMS to 139. To cancel your ticket via SMS, type “CANCEL (PNR Number) (Train Number)” and send to 139.

For all three methods listed above, the refund can be collected at the station where the journey starts or from the neighboring satellite PRS locations within the specified time duration.

Confirmed Tickets - Cancellation Policies and Charges

For confirmed tickets, the charges are based on the timing of cancellation

• 48 hours before: If you cancel confirmed tickets 48 hours prior to departure, the train ticket cancellation charges are as follows:

• Before 48 hours and Up to 12 hours: If you cancel your confirmed ticket less than 48 hours and up to 12 hours before the start of the journey, you will be charged 25% of the total ticket price.
• 12 hours and up to 4 hours: If you cancel your confirmed ticket less than 12 hours and up to 4 hours before departure, the cancellation fee will be 50% of the total ticket price. Based on the class of travel, flat cancellation fees are applicable.

RAC Tickets - Cancellation Rules and Charges

Indian railways allows passengers to cancel RAC tickets up to 30 minutes before the start of the journey.

• No refund can be obtained if cancellation is done after that.
• The cancellation fee for RAC ticket is Rs. 60 plus GST per passenger
• If your RAC ticket is confirmed before the final chart preparation, it will be considered as a confirmed ticket.
• Then IRCTC rules and charges for cancellation of confirmed tickets will be applicable in this case.

Waitlisted Tickets - Cancellation Policies and Charges

• You can cancel your waitlisted counter tickets up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the journey.
• No refund is applicable after that.
• The cancellation can be carried out by the passenger at PRS counters or via the IRCTC website.
• A fee of Rs. 60 plus GST per passenger will be charged
• A waitlisted ticket that gets confirmed before preparing the final chart is considered as a confirmed ticket. So, cancellation rules for confirmed tickets apply.
• According to the IRCTC cancellation policies, if waitlisted e-tickets do not get confirmed, the refund will be processed automatically after deduction of clerk fees. It can be collected within or after the railway ticket cancellation refund time.

Partially Confirmed Family Ticket or Party Ticket - Cancellation Policies

• Say, you have a family e-ticket or party e-ticket issued for more than one passenger. Out of these, if some passengers have confirmed tickets and others have waitlisted or RAC tickets, then, you can cancel the entire ticket and get a complete refund for even the confirmed passengers. But, the tickets have to be cancelled online or TDR should be filed online for all passengers 30 minutes before the train departs.
• If the family ticket or party ticket is booked through the counter, it can be cancelled up to 30 minutes prior to train departure.
• If either the RAC or the waitlisted pasengers have decided not to travel, then you cannot cancel directly. Instead, get a certificate from the ticket checking staff stating that those passengers are not traveling and file for an online TDR within 72 hours of reaching the destination. Further, you will have to send the certificate to IRCTC via post.

Tatkal Tickets - Cancellation Rules

• Confirmed Tatkal tickets can’t be cancelled and no refund is given.
• Partial cancellation of Tatkal tickets can be done.
• For waitlisted Tatkal tickets, cancellation charges are in accordance with the current waitlist cancellation rules.
• You can also choose to partially cancel Tatkal tickets.
• For partially confirmed family or party Tatkal tickets, the cancellation rules for the general quota tickets are applicable.

Premium Tatkal Tickets - Cancellation Rules

• Confirmed premium Tatkal tickets cannot be cancelled.
• No refund is granted in such cases.
• Since waitlisted or RAC tickets don’t fall under the premium Tatkal category, those rules don’t hold good.

Cancellation Policy If the Train is Cancelled

• e-Tickets: e-tickets are cancelled automatically if the train gets cancelled. You don’t have to file a TDR to get a refund or cancel the ticket yourself.
• Counter Tickets: You can cancel counter tickets by going to the PRS counter. You will get a refund on cancelling, and this can be done for up to 72 days post the scheduled departure of the train.

Cancellation Policy if the Train is Late by Over 3 Hours

• If the train is late by more than 3 hours, passengers can cancel their tickets.
• Passengers who have e-tickets have to file TDR for refund before the train actually departs.
• Post the filing of TDR, the process of refund may take more than 60 days to complete.
• PRS counter tickets must be surrendered at the station where the journey was supposed to start.
• Such passengers will be given a complete refund at the counter.

Cancellation Policy for Partial Cancellation of Tickets

• IRCTC permits partial cancellation of tickets
• For partial cancellation of e-Tickets, log into the IRCTC website, go to the booked ticket section, select the individual or individuals whose tickets need to be cancelled
• Click on the cancel button
• Post cancellation, a fresh electronic reservation slip or e-reservation slip is given to the passenger.
• For partial cancellation through the PRS counter, a passenger has to fill a cancellation form specifying the details of individuals whose tickets are to be cancelled.

Cancellation Rules For The Cancellation of Tickets After Chart Preparation and Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) Filing

• For the cancellation of confirmed tickets after chart preparation, you will have to file TDR for ticket deposit receipt online. Then, you should track the status of your fund.
• The TDR has to be filed up to o 4 hours before the train departs
• For RAC tickets, the TDR is required to be filed at least 30 minutes before the train starts its scheduled journey.

FAQs Of IRCTC Cancellation Charges: