New IRCTC train ticket reservation rules 2024: Indian Railways has updated the advance reservation period for train ticket booking, reducing it from 120 days, to 60 days. The new advance train ticket booking rules will be effective from November 1, 2024.
The new rules for advance train ticket reservations will not affect tickets that have already been booked. Since 1981, the Indian Railways’ Advance Reservation Period (ARP) has undergone its 12th revision.
From September 1995 to February 1998, the shortest ARP duration was only 30 days. In April 2015, the Railways decided to significantly extend the ARP to 120 days, enabling passengers to reserve their tickets up to four months prior to their travel date.
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So why did Indian Railways decide to reduce the ARP to 60 days? We take a look at the top 5 reasons:
- The 120-day reservation period for train tickets was found to be excessively long, leading to a high number of cancellations and wasted seats or berths due to passengers not showing up for their journeys. Currently, the cancellation rate stands at approximately 21%, while 4-5% of passengers fail to appear for their scheduled trips.
- The issue of “no-shows” has been a significant concern, as many passengers neglect to cancel their tickets and do not turn up for their journeys. This behavior has led to various fraudulent activities, such as impersonation and illegal money collection by railway officials. By reducing the reservation period, these problems can be effectively addressed, says Indian Railways.
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- Also, longer reservation periods increased the likelihood of individuals blocking tickets, potentially preventing genuine passengers from securing their desired seats.
- Shorter reservation periods are expected to encourage more bookings by authentic travelers. It is important to note that this change does not impact General class tickets, as they are typically purchased just before the journey.
- By improving the visibility of demand through reduced cancellations and no-shows, Indian Railways says it can plan and introduce more special trains well in advance, enhancing the overall efficiency and convenience for passengers.
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