Indian Railways is one of the most affordable and reliable ways to travel in India. Every day, lakhs of people use trains to reach their destinations.
However, delays are common, especially in winter due to fog and bad weather. This causes inconvenience to passengers.
But if a train is delayed by 3 hours or more, you can cancel your ticket and get a full refund. Here’s how the process works.
Can I Get My Ticket Money Back?
Yes, if your train is running very late and you decide not to travel, you can cancel your ticket without any deduction.
Thanks to the IRCTC website and mobile app, the process of filing a refund request (TDR) has become simple. If you act on time, you can easily get your money back and avoid any trouble.
When Can I Get a Full Refund?
If the train is delayed by three hours or more and you decide to cancel your trip, you can cancel the ticket before the journey starts.
In this case, you will get a full refund, with no cancellation charges. But remember — this is only possible if the cancellation is done before the train’s departure time.
How to File a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt)
To get a refund, you need to file a TDR. Here’s the step-by-step method to do it through the IRCTC website:
Go to the IRCTC website
Log in with your user ID and password
Click on the ‘Services’ tab and choose ‘File TDR’
Go to ‘My Transactions’ and find your ticket
Select the reason for cancellation and submit the request
Once submitted, the refund request goes to the railways. Normally, the refund is processed within a week, but in some cases, it can take up to 90 days.
Where Can You Cancel Train Tickets?
You can cancel your ticket from:
The ticket counter at the railway station
By calling the Railway Call Centre
Using the IRCTC mobile app
Other Reasons You Can Cancel a Ticket
Apart from train delays, tickets can also be cancelled in cases such as:
Changes in train timings or routes
Natural disasters, administrative issues, or personal emergencies
Errors during booking like wrong dates or names
What Happens If I Cancel for Personal Reasons?
If you cancel your ticket voluntarily, a certain amount will be deducted from your refund depending on how early you cancel:
48 hours before departure – 50% refund
24 hours before – 25% refund
12 hours before – 10% refund
Less than 4 hours before departure – No refund.
