Indian Railways Updates Ticket Booking Window to 60 Days, Boosts Special Trains for Festive Season

The Indian Railways has shortened the reservation period for train tickets from 120 days to 60 days, effective from Friday, November 1. According to Southern Railway, the updated reservation period won’t affect general-class ticket purchases or those already booked. The previous 365-day booking window for foreign tourists remains unchanged.

Benefits of Reduced Reservation Period

Railways officials say the revised 60-day booking policy aims to cut down on cancellations and no-shows, a trend where passengers book tickets but don’t travel. The change is also expected to discourage agents from hoarding tickets and will help Indian Railways better predict demand and plan for additional trains.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) noted that 21% of bookings made for the 61- to 120-day period were later canceled, and around 5% of passengers didn’t show up. The shorter reservation period is expected to support better planning for peak travel seasons and special train arrangements.

Special Trains for Festive Travel Rush

In response to increased demand during the festive season, Indian Railways has also introduced extra trains to manage the high passenger volume. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, shared that over 160 special trains were deployed for Diwali, with plans to run more than 170 trains daily, especially for travelers heading to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for Chhath Pooja.

Additionally, Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff, and Rail Sewaks are assisting passengers during the rush.