India’s railway waitlist crisis deepened sharply in the financial year 2025-26, with more than 3.39 crore passengers unable to travel after their waitlisted tickets failed to get confirmed and were automatically cancelled.
The figures emerged through RTI responses obtained by Neemuch-based activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur from the Railways, highlighting the growing pressure on India’s rail network and shortage of confirmed berths across major routes.
According to the data, nearly 92,877 passengers every day lost the opportunity to travel due to unconfirmed tickets. The numbers further translate to around 3,870 passengers every hour, 64 passengers every minute and more than one passenger every second.
The crisis has steadily worsened over the years. Around 1.65 crore passengers were affected in 2021-22, which rose to 2.72 crore in 2022-23, 2.96 crore in 2023-24, 3.27 crore in 2024-25 and eventually crossed 3.39 crore in 2025-26.
Sleeper Class passengers were the worst affected, accounting for nearly 1.68 crore cancelled journeys. The category is primarily used by migrant workers, students, low-income families and small-town travellers who depend heavily on affordable rail transport.
The 3AC category recorded the second-highest number of affected passengers, with over 74.55 lakh travellers unable to secure confirmed seats. Significant numbers were also reported in 2AC, indicating that the issue has spread across multiple travel classes.
For many passengers, the cancellation of a waitlisted ticket often results in missed examinations, delayed medical treatments, lost wages, family emergencies and unaffordable last-minute travel alternatives.
RTI activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur said the data reflects the severe shortage of trains and berths on high-demand routes.
“Even after 78 years of Independence, getting a confirmed railway ticket should not depend on luck. The Railways must focus on solving present-day passenger problems instead of only showcasing future infrastructure dreams,” he said.
The report has once again raised questions over railway capacity and passenger accommodation despite ongoing discussions around high-speed trains, station redevelopment and infrastructure modernisation projects.
The latest figures underline the growing demand for additional trains, expanded coach capacity and more efficient passenger management across India’s railway network.
