Refund for Cancelled Train Tickets: Trains are sometimes cancelled due to various reasons or inclement weather when traveling with Indian Railways. Passengers need not worry in such situations, as railway rules mandate a full refund of the ticket fare upon train cancellation. However, passengers are often unsure about how and when they will receive their money back. The refund process depends on whether the ticket was booked online or offline (i.e., at a railway ticket counter). Therefore, the rules for obtaining a refund for both types of cancelled tickets are detailed below.
How to get a refund for online tickets
If you booked an e-ticket via the IRCTC website or mobile app, the refund process is extremely simple and fully automated.
Refund is processed automatically
If the Railways cancels the train, there is absolutely no need for you to cancel the ticket yourself or file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) on the IRCTC portal.
Do not cancel the ticket yourself
The most important point is not to make the mistake of manually cancelling the ticket after the official announcement of the train cancellation. If you press the ‘cancel’ button yourself, the system may deduct standard cancellation charges.
When is the money credited to the account?
Your ticket is automatically cancelled by the railway system. Subsequently, the full base fare—excluding software/convenience fees and applicable taxes—is refunded within 3 to 7 working days to the same bank account, credit/debit card, or wallet used for the initial booking payment.
How to get a refund for railway counter tickets
If you purchased a ticket in the traditional manner—by filling out a slip at a railway station ticket counter—the rules differ slightly. To obtain a refund for such tickets, you must visit the counter. You will then need to follow the process outlined below to receive your refund. Refunds for counter tickets are never processed automatically. To obtain a refund, you must personally visit the nearest computerized railway reservation counter (PRS Counter).
According to railway rules, you are required to visit the counter and surrender your original ticket within three days (72 hours) of the train’s scheduled departure time.
Once you hand over the original ticket at the counter and the details are verified, railway officials will immediately issue a full refund in cash, without deducting any clerkage or cancellation charges.
Tickets can also be surrendered if the train is delayed.
In addition to train cancellations, you can also cancel your ticket without any charges if your train is delayed by more than three hours. If the Railways has not cancelled the train but it is running more than three hours late from its originating station and you do not wish to travel, online ticket holders must file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) on the portal before the train departs. Conversely, passengers holding counter tickets can cancel them directly by visiting the refund counter.
How to check the refund status?
If there is a delay in your online refund, you can track its live status using your PNR number by visiting the official ‘Indian Railways Refund Website’ or the IRCTC helpdesk.
