Indian Railways Allows Passengers To Book, Cancel Tickets Until Five Minutes Before Train Departure

Passengers will now be able to book and cancel train tickets until five minutes before the train departs from a station starting today (10 October).

As per the new rules by the Indian Railways, the tickets can be booked or cancelled both online and on PRS ticket counters till five minutes before the train leaves the platform, Hindustan Times reported. It will also be applicable to all the special trains being run during Covid times.

The Railways is going to restore the pre-Covid system of preparing the second chart of reservations half an hour before the departure. The system had been discontinued amid the Covid-19 pandemic when the services were resumed after the nationwide lockdown. The time of preparing the second chart was shifted to two hours before the departure.

“As per request of Zonal Railways for ensuring convenience of rail passengers, the matter has been examined and it has been decided that the second reservation chart shall be prepared at least 30 minutes before scheduled/rescheduled time of departure of train,” a statement issued by the Indian Railways said.

“Accordingly, ticket booking facility, both online and on PRS ticket counters, shall be available, before preparation of second chart. CRIS will make necessary modifications in the software accordingly so as to restore this provision with effect from October 10,” it added.

From today, the first reservation chart will be ready four hours and the second chart will be prepared 30 minutes to five minutes before the departure of the train. This will allow passengers to book or cancel tickets until the second chart is prepared.