Indian Railways cuts advance reservation period to 60 days

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Oct 17: In a move aimed at optimizing train travel, the Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the advance reservation period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days, effective November 1, 2024. This change is expected to streamline ticket bookings and minimize cancellations. Under the new rule, the ARP will be 60 days (excluding the date of travel), while all bookings made up to October 31, 2024, under the previous 120-day policy will remain valid. Passengers will still be allowed to cancel bookings made beyond the new 60-day limit, ensuring flexibility.

Certain daytime express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, will not be affected by this change, as they currently operate under shorter advance booking periods. Additionally, the 365-day advance reservation limit for foreign tourists will remain unchanged. The decision to shorten the ARP is rooted in the historical fluctuations of reservation periods, which have varied from 30 to 120 days. Based on past experiences, the 60-day ARP has been identified as the most optimal duration from the passenger’s perspective.

The benefits of this new 60-day reservation period include a notable reduction in cancellations, as the previous 120-day window often resulted in high rates of unused tickets. Approximately 21% of tickets were canceled, and 4-5% of passengers failed to show up for their journeys. The longer advance period also led to issues such as ticket blocking and fraud, as many passengers neglected to cancel their tickets. The new policy aims to address these challenges by encouraging more genuine bookings while also providing better visibility of demand for railway planning.

The impact on General class tickets will be minimal, as these are typically purchased just before travel. Overall, the reduction in the advance reservation period is expected to enhance the travel experience for passengers while allowing the railways to manage resources more efficiently.