Train journeys have long been a cornerstone of travel in India, offering a unique blend of comfort and scenic vistas. However, plans can change unexpectedly, necessitating the cancellation of reserved tickets. Navigating the cancellation and refund process with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) can seem daunting, but with a clear understanding of the procedures, it becomes straightforward.

Cancelling an E-ticket

  • Visit the IRCTC website and sign in with your credentials.
  • Under the 'Trains' section, select 'Cancel Ticket' and choose 'E-ticket' or 'Counter Ticket' as applicable.
  • Choose the specific ticket you wish to cancel from your booked tickets list.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to confirm the cancellation.

Cancelling a counter ticket 

  • Visit the IRCTC Counter Ticket Cancellation page.
  • Input your PNR number, train number, and the displayed Captcha code.
  • Click on 'Submit.' An OTP will be sent to the mobile number provided during booking.
  • Enter the received OTP and click 'Submit.'
  • Once the OTP is validated, your PNR details will appear on the screen.
  • After verifying the details, click on 'Cancel Ticket' for full cancellation. The refundable amount will be displayed.
  • An SMS containing the PNR and refund details will be sent to your registered mobile number. 

Cancellation of e-Tickets before chart preparation of the train

If a confirmed ticket is cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, a flat cancellation fee is deducted per passenger:

  • AC First Class/Executive Class: ₹240
  • AC 2 Tier/First Class: ₹200
  • AC 3 Tier/AC Chair Car/AC 3 Economy: ₹180
  • Sleeper Class: ₹120
  • Second Class: ₹60

Within 48 to 12 hours before departure: 25% of the fare is deducted, subject to the minimum flat rates mentioned above.

Within 12 hours to 4 hours before departure (up to chart preparation): 50% of the fare is deducted, subject to the minimum flat rates.

No refund of fare shall be admissible on the tickets having confirmed reservation in case ticket is not cancelled online or TDR not filed online up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train. 

Note: The Chart preparation time is the time for the chart preparation from the Train Originating Station or from the previous chart Preparation station

Cancellation charges for RAC or waitlisted tickets

  • To obtain a refund for an e-ticket, it must be cancelled online, or a TDR should be filed within the specified timeframes outlined in the refund rules.
  • In case a wait-listed ticket is cancelled online, the refund of fare shall be made after deducting the cancellation charge of ₹ 20/- +GST per passenger, if the ticket is cancelled online up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train.
  • If all passengers on a ticket remain on waiting list after first charting, user need not cancel such tickets. Such tickets will be cancelled automatically through the system, and the full refund will be credited back, without deducting any cancellation.

Cancellation charges for partially confirmed tickets 

In case, on a party e-ticket or a family e-ticket issued for travel of more than one passenger, some passengers have confirmed reservations and others are on the waiting list, full refund of fare, less a cancellation charge of ₹ 20/- +GST per passenger, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also subject to the condition that the ticket shall be cancelled online or an online TDR shall be filed for all the passengers up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train.

Cancellation charges for full waitlist ticket

  • For e-tickets where all passengers remain waitlisted after the reservation chart is prepared, the system will automatically cancel these tickets. A full refund of the fare, minus clerkage charges, will be credited to the account used for booking. 
  • For i-tickets that are waitlisted, cancellations can be processed at any computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counter up to 30 minutes before the train's scheduled departure, regardless of the travel distance. Refunds will be issued after deducting the applicable clerkage fee.

Cancellation of Train

  • E-Tickets: For trains cancelled by Indian Railways, a full refund will be automatically processed by IRCTC. Users do not need to cancel their e-tickets or file a TDR; the full fare will be credited back to the account used for booking. 
  • I-tickets: In case of an i-ticket, the ticket can be cancelled up to 72 hours after the scheduled departure of the train at any computerised reservation counter. 

Understanding these procedures ensures a smoother experience when cancelling and refunding train tickets through IRCTC.