Indian Railways has announced significant changes to the cancellation policy for its upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper trains. The new rules come just before these premium services begin commercial operations.
Revised Cancellation Charges Take Effect
The Railway Board issued a formal notification on Friday detailing the updated refund structure. Passengers will now face specific deductions depending on when they cancel their confirmed tickets.
Timing Determines Refund Percentage
If you cancel your confirmed ticket more than 72 hours before the train's scheduled departure, you will receive a refund with a 25% deduction. This means you get back 75% of your fare.
Cancellations made between 72 hours and up to eight hours before departure will incur a 50% charge. You would then receive only half of the original fare as a refund.
The strictest rule applies to last-minute cancellations. If you cancel less than eight hours before the train leaves, you will get no refund at all. The railways will keep the entire fare.
Important Filing Requirements
The notification emphasizes a crucial procedural point. Passengers must officially cancel their tickets or file a Ticket Deposit Receipt online at least eight hours before departure. Failure to do so will result in no refund being granted.
Specific Features of Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains
The Railway Board also clarified several operational details for these new trains. The minimum chargeable distance for travel will be 400 kilometers. This means shorter journeys will still be billed for this base distance.
Unlike some other train categories, there will be no provision for Reservation Against Cancellation tickets. The system will only confirm fully reserved seats.
Quota Provisions Explained
Certain special quotas will remain available. These include reservations for ladies, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. Duty passes will also be honored as per existing instructions.
The board explicitly stated that no other reservation categories will apply to these trains. This creates a simplified booking structure focused on the specified quotas.
Comparison with Amrit Bharat-II Express
The notification drew a clear distinction with another recently launched service. For the Amrit Bharat-II Express, which began operations this month, the minimum chargeable distance is only 200 kilometers.
Similar to the Vande Bharat sleeper trains, the Amrit Bharat-II Express will also not offer RAC tickets. This indicates a broader shift toward confirmed reservation systems in premium services.
These policy changes aim to streamline operations and manage expectations as Indian Railways rolls out its next generation of sleeper trains. Passengers should review the new rules carefully before booking their journeys.
