New Delhi: The Indian Railways has reduced time limit for advance train ticket booking from existing 120-day period to 60 days. The period of advance reservation is exclusive of the day of departure of the train.
The new rule will reportedly come into effect from November 1, 2024, and will not impact the passengers who have already booked their tickets.
A Railway Board circular said, “It has been decided that w.e.f. 01.11.2024, the existing time limit for advance reservation for trains will be reduced from 120 days to 60 days (excluding the date of journey).”
All bookings done up to October 31 under the ARP (advance reservation period) of 120 days will remain intact, it added.
There will, however, be no change in rules in the case of some daytime express trains, where a shorter time limit for advance reservation is currently applicable. There also will be no change in the 365-day time period for foreign tourists.
“There will be no change in the case of certain daytime express trains like Taj Express, Gomti Express, etc. where lower time limits for advance reservation are at present in force,” the circular said.
“There will also be no change in the case of a limit of 365 days for foreign tourists,” it added.
The circular did not cite any reason for the reduction in ARP.
According to the board, cancellation of a booking made beyond the ARP of 60 days will, however, be permitted. The ministry of railways had on March 25, 2015, increased the ARP from 60 days to 120 days. According to reports, about 30-35 crore passengers travel in Indian trains every year.
