Indian Railways has introduced new rules for ticket booking under which Advance Reservation Period (ARP) has been reduced from 120 days to 60 days, so now domestic passengers will be able to book their tickets up to 60 days before their journey instead of the previous 120-day window. As per reports, this rule is in effect from November 1, 2024. Meanwhile, Foreign tourists retain the option to book tickets 365 days in advance, with no changes to their reservation policy.
Let us inform you that previously booked tickets will not be affected by the new rule. Passengers who have already booked tickets under the 120-day ARP will still be valid. Meanwhile just like before, cancellation of tickets booked before the new rule can still be processed as per standard guidelines if passengers decide to cancle the tickets. Similarly, general-class tickets will not be affected by the new rules, meaning these tickets can still be purchased closer to the travel date without adhering to the ARP.
The new rules have been introduced following the challenges being faced by Indian Railways who revealed that 21% of tickets booked within the 61-to-120-day window were often canceled, leading to resource wastage and complications in train management. If not cancelled, 5% of passengers fail to travel on the decided date which is a loss for the passenger. Moreover, shortening the reservation period will decrease percentage of mass ticket hoarding by agents and non-travelers, enhancing ticket availability for genuine travelers.
Current booking restrictions on specific daytime express trains, such as the “Taj Express” and “Gomti Express,” will remain as is, with no impact from the new rules. For Chhath Pooja travelers, Indian Railways has organized extra trains to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Over 160 trains ran on October 31, and more than 170 trains were planned for November 1 to manage the heavy passenger load. From 1995 to 1998, the ARP was as short as 30 days. In April 2015, the ARP was extended to 120 days, allowing travelers to book four months in advance.