Train Ticket Cancellation and Refund Basics

Refund rules reward early cancellation. For a confirmed ticket, the deduction is smallest when you cancel well before departure, grows in steps as the train gets closer, and becomes a no-refund situation very close to departure. The exact amounts and time limits are set by Indian Railways and revised from time to time, so use the official table for the final figure.

• Cancelled well in advance: a flat charge per passenger that depends on the class.
• Cancelled closer to departure: a percentage of the fare, with a minimum flat charge.
• Cancelled very close to departure or after the chart is prepared: usually no refund. In specific situations you can file a TDR instead (see below).

An e-ticket that is still on the waiting list when the final chart is prepared is cancelled automatically and the fare is refunded to your original payment method. If you cancel a waitlisted ticket yourself before the chart, a small cancellation charge applies.

RAC e-tickets need attention: if you do not cancel online or file a TDR up to 30 minutes before departure, no fare refund may be admissible. If you will not travel, cancel before the final chart.

A confirmed Tatkal ticket is generally not refundable if you cancel it. A Tatkal ticket that stays waitlisted is cancelled and refunded like any other waitlisted ticket.

• If the railway cancels a train, the fare for e-tickets is normally refunded automatically.
• If a train is running more than three hours late at your boarding station, you can usually decide not to travel and claim a full refund by filing a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) online. Filing deadlines apply, so act quickly.

1. 1Sign in to your IRCTC account on the website or app and open your booked ticket history.
2. 2Select the ticket and the passengers you want to cancel.
3. 3Check the refund amount shown, then confirm the cancellation.

Refunds go back to the original payment method. How long they take to appear depends on your bank or payment provider.