Railway Ministry relaxed rules related to cancellation, refunds, and boarding points

Indian Railways has announced several changes to improve passenger convenience and bring transparency to the ticketing system. The Railway Ministry has relaxed rules related to cancellation, refunds, and boarding points for confirmed tickets. Passengers will no longer need to wait for chart preparation or be entangled in complex old rules.

Passengers can now change their boarding point up to 30 minutes before the train’s departure. Previously, this change was only possible before chart preparation (usually four hours in advance).If your ticket is for station ‘A’ but you want to board at station ‘B’, you can change your boarding point via the mobile app up to 30 minutes before the train departs from station ‘A’. In large cities like Delhi or Mumbai, where there are multiple stations within a single city, this rule will give passengers the freedom to change plans at the last minute.

You can now cancel your over-the-counter ticket at any railway station. Previously, cancellation had to be done at the station where it was purchased. The need to file a TDR for e-ticket refunds has been eliminated. The refund amount will now be automatically credited to the passenger’s bank account.
(UPDATED ON 26TH MARCH 2026)