In most cases, if your tickets are surrendered for cancellation within the prescribed time limits, you can get refunds across the counter.
a) Where the ticket issuing and journey commencing stations are the same and in cases where they are different (like/onward tickets), the ticket should be surrendered at the journey commencing station within the following time limits:
b) If the ticket has been issued for travel from some other stations, refund can be obtained at the ticket issuing station before the train departs.
c) Refund can also be obtained from a station other than the ticket issuing and journey commencing stations. In such cases, the ticket should be surrendered during working hours, before the preparation of Reservation Chart. Refund will be admissible subject to verification. For trains departing between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours, you can get a refund either within the prescribed time limits or within four hours of opening of the Reservation Office, whichever is later.
If you have not cancelled the tickets within the prescribed time limits you can approach the Deputy Station Superintendent (Commercial)/Station Manager or Chief Reservation Supervisor of nominated stations. They are authorized to grant refunds on tickets issued from their stations by condoning the delay in surrendering the tickets for cancellation. You must also satisfy the Station Manager that your ticket is not used.
In such cases, you must obtain a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) from the nearest major station within 30 days from the date of scheduled travel. You must then submit an application in the prescribed from to the Chief Commercial Manager (Refunds) of the Zonal Railway to which the Ticket Deposit Receipt-issuing station belongs. The application should be accompanied by the passenger foil of the TDR. Distance of your journey Time limit for cancellation (After the scheduled departure of the train).
Up to 200 Kms. 3 hrs.
201 to 500 Kms 6 hrs.
Over 500 Kms. 12 hrs.
This application must be submitted within 90 days from the date of your journey. The refund officer will examine the case on merit and, if decided, refund will be sent to you by a Station Pay Order (to be encashed at station) or Money Order or Crossed Cheque.
The fare you paid for your ticket will be refunded after deducting cancellation charges.
The amount deducted is based on the time of cancellation and the status of your ticket. Detailed explanations are given below. For cancellation of confirmed tickets more than one
day in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, excluding the date of journey, the minimum cancellation charges based on the class of travel are as follows: Flat cancellation charges per passenger.
Class of your ticket
Rs.70/- AC First/Executive Class
Rs.60/- AC Chair Car/ First Class/ AC 2Tier/ AC 3 Tier
Rs.40/- Sleeper Class
Rs.20/- Second Class
For cancellation of confirmed tickets less than one day in advance, excluding the date of journey and up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charges will be 25% of the total fare paid by you. For cancellation of confirmed tickets less than four hours before the scheduled departure of the train and up to the prescribed time limits as mentioned earlier, after actual departure of the train, the cancellation charges will be 50% of the fare paid by you, subject to flat cancellation charges for each class.
For cancellation of RAC/Waitlisted tickets up to the prescribed time limits, full refund of fare will be given, after deducting the clerkage charges per passenger. If you are having a ticket with several legs of journey, if the first leg of the journey is confirmed the whole ticket will be treated as a confirmed ticket for purposes of applying cancellation /refund rules. On the other hand if the first leg of the journey is in the waiting list, even if the all the other legs of onward journey are confirmed, the whole ticket will still be treated only has a waitlisted ticket for purpose of granting refund.
Yes, passengers traveling by air conditioned class can claim refund if the AC fails enroute. You can get a refund of difference of fare for the distance the AC was not functioning. This refund should be claimed immediately at the end of the journey or within 20 hours of the arrival of the train at the destination, on production of the ticket and certificate issued by the Travelling Ticket Examiner.
If you were forced to travel in a lower class for want of accommodation, you can get a refund of difference of fare between fare paid and fare for the class actually traveled. This refund should be claimed within 2 days of the date of issue of the certificate (excluding the date of issue) of the arrival of the train at your destination. To claim this refund, you will need to submit your ticket along with the certificate issued by the Travelling Ticket Examiner.
If you were not provided accommodation due to unforeseen circumstances, you are entitled to full refund of the fare paid by your without any deductions. To claim this refund, you should surrender your ticket at the journey originating station within three hours after the actual departure of the train.
If your train is running late by more than three hours, you can get a refund of full fare paid by you without any deductions. You can claim this refund at the journey commencing station within the maximum time limits mentioned earlier.
After deducting fare for the traveled portion, you will be refunded the balance fare. To claim this refund, you are required to surrender your ticket at the station, within three hours of the actual arrival of the train which has been delayed.
If your train is cancelled due to accidents, breaches or floods, you will be refunded the full fare paid by you. To claim this refund, you should surrender your ticket within three days of the scheduled departure of the train.
In combined tickets, where few passengers are Waitlisted and others are Confirmed, you will be given full refund less clerkage charge in respect of all passengers, if such tickets are cancelled within four hours of the scheduled departure of the train and up to three hours after the actual departure of the train.
No, you cannot get any refund on lost ticket. However, you will be allowed to travel on the reservation already made, after paying the prescribed charges for the issue of a duplicate ticket. In your own interest, you are requested to inform the Reservation Office immediately about the loss of your ticket. This will also help prevent fraudulent refund claims.
If the loss of your Confirmed/RAC ticket is reported before the preparation of the Reservation Chart, a duplicate ticket will be issued on collection of the clerkage charge per passenger. In case of the loss of your confirmed ticket is reported after preparation of the Reservation Chart a duplicate ticket will be issued on collection of 50% of the fare. No duplicate ticket will be issued in case of Waitlisted tickets.
If your original ticket is found and presented along with your duplicate ticket, before the departure of the train, you will be refunded the amount paid for your duplicate ticket. However, 5% of the total amount will be deducted, Subject to a minimum of Rs.20/-.
If the ticket that was torn/mutilated was a Confirmed one or RAC, a duplicate ticket will be issued on collection of 25% of the fare, after the preparation of Reservation Chart. Before chart preparation, charges are same as applicable for issue of duplicate ticket in lieu of the lost/misplaced ticket. No duplicate ticket will be issued in case of mutilated Waitlisted tickets. Besides, refund is admissible on torn/mutilated ticket if its genuineness and authenticity are verified on the basis of particulars visible on the face of such a ticket.
Save as otherwise mentioned, clerk age is a charge levied for the clerical work rendered in refund of fares on cancellation of unreserved, waitlisted & RAC tickets. The amount of clerk age charge is Rs.20/- per passenger, except for second class unreserved tickets where it is Rs.10/-.
If an unused unreserved ticket is presented for cancellation, full fare is refunded after deducting the per passenger clerk age charge provided that the ticket is surrendered at the ticket issuing station.
i) Within 3 hours after the actual departure of the train for which the ticket was issued or
ii) Within 3 hours after the actual departure of the last train of the day for the destination station, for a ticket valid
for whole day.
Click on this link to see all the Refund rules - http://www.indianrail.gov.in/refund_rules.html