No More 120-Day Booking: Indian Railways Introduces 60-Day Reservation Window

New Delhi, 17th October 2024: Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from the current 120 days to 60 days, effective from November 1, 2024. This change, aimed at benefiting genuine passengers, will apply to all train bookings, except for the day of travel.

The decision comes as part of the Railway Board’s efforts to address several issues related to ticket bookings and cancellations. Reports showed that around 21% of reservations made between 61 to 120 days were being canceled. Additionally, 5% of passengers neither canceled their tickets nor boarded the trains, leading to wasted berths. The high rate of no-shows and cancellations has prompted this move, which will enable Indian Railways to better gauge actual demand and plan for additional trains during peak seasons.

The key objective of this policy revision is to improve ticket availability for genuine travelers, reduce the number of cancellations, and minimize unused reservations. By shortening the ARP, Indian Railways aims to give passengers more clarity in their travel plans, reducing the current cancellation rate. The new ARP will apply to all regular train services, though some daytime express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, will maintain a shorter booking window. For foreign tourists, the existing 365-day ARP will remain unchanged.

Passengers who have already booked tickets under the 120-day ARP before October 31, 2024, will not be affected, and their reservations will remain valid. Tickets booked beyond the new 60-day window will still be eligible for cancellation under the usual policies.

This move is expected to improve travel planning for passengers and prevent ticket hoarding. Indian Railways is encouraging passengers to take note of the new rules and make their bookings accordingly to avoid any inconvenience. The last revision of the ARP from 60 days to 120 days took place in January 2015, and prior to that, the booking period was as short as 30 days between 1995 and 1998.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys within the new 60-day booking window to secure tickets and avoid last-minute rushes.