Free Ticket Rescheduling Launch by IRCTC Soon
Indian Railways is gearing up to introduce a game-changing feature for train travellers in India. Starting in January 2026, confirmed ticket holders will have the flexibility to reschedule their travel dates online without incurring any extra charges. This significant announcement was made by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aiming to streamline the ticket management process for passengers.
Currently, if passengers need to change their journey, they must cancel their existing tickets and buy new ones, which often results in cancellation fees. For instance, cancelling a confirmed ticket between 48 hours and 12 hours prior to departure incurs a 25% deduction in fare, which increases to 50% if cancelled closer to the departure time. The new rescheduling feature will eliminate these hassles.
With the upcoming system, travellers will simply log into their IRCTC accounts, select their existing bookings, and choose a new date, provided seats are available. If the fare on the new date is higher, they will only pay the difference. If the fare is equal or lower, there won’t be any additional charges. This ease of rescheduling is expected to be a boon, especially for frequent travellers, whether for work or personal commitments.
This initiative aligns with Indian Railways’ ongoing digital transformation efforts and aims to enhance customer convenience. The rescheduling feature will be integrated with the IRCTC’s central reservation system in real-time, ensuring a seamless experience for users. Passengers can look forward to saving both time and money with this new option, making their travel plans more adaptable.
Furthermore, Indian Railways is taking additional steps to improve transparency and efficiency in ticketing systems. Since October 1, only those with Aadhaar authentication can book general reservation tickets in the first 15 minutes after bookings open. Additionally, the advance reservation period for train bookings was reduced from 120 to 60 days last year, making the ticketing process more responsive to actual travel demand.
As these changes roll out, passengers can expect a more user-friendly and efficient travel experience with Indian Railways. The new rescheduling feature is just one of many improvements aimed at modernizing the railway journey in India.
