In a major relief for passengers, Indian Railways will soon let travellers change the travel date of confirmed online tickets without any extra charge.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that this new facility will start from January 2025, calling the current system “unfair” and inconvenient for passengers.
How Will the New Rule Work?
At present, passengers who want to change their travel date after booking must cancel their ticket and book a new one, which usually involves paying cancellation charges.
With the new system, passengers can reschedule their journey date directly through the IRCTC website or app, avoiding the need to cancel and rebook.
Important Points to Remember
Although the new feature removes cancellation fees, a few rules will still apply:
Seat Availability: Getting a confirmed seat on the new date will depend on the train and class selected.
Fare Difference: If the fare for the new journey is higher, passengers must pay the extra amount.
This new process aims to make train bookings more flexible and transparent.
Aadhaar Verification and New Guidelines
Separately, IRCTC has announced that Aadhaar-based booking rules for online general ticket reservations will begin from October 1, 2025.
This step is meant to prevent misuse of the online ticketing system by unauthorised agents and touts.
However, this rule will not apply to tickets booked at PRS counters, which will continue as usual.
A Step Towards Better Passenger Services
Allowing free date changes is another move by Indian Railways to modernise its online booking system and improve passenger convenience.
With millions of people depending on trains daily, this update will make travel planning easier, reduce last-minute cancellations, and ensure a smoother booking experience for everyone.
