Indian Railways introduces new RailOne rules from July 15, making photo ID mandatory for online general ticket bookings and invalidating ticket screenshots.
Indian Railways has introduced significant changes to the rules governing online bookings of general (unreserved) tickets, aiming to strengthen passenger verification, improve security and prevent ticket misuse.
The new rules, which come into effect on July 15, 2026, apply only to passengers booking unreserved tickets through the RailOne mobile app. Tickets purchased at railway station counters remain unaffected.
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What's changing from July 15?
Under the revised rules:
- Passengers booking general tickets via the RailOne app must provide a valid photo identity document while making the booking.
- During the journey, passengers must carry the same original ID used during booking.
- Accepted identity documents include Aadhaar card, voter ID, PAN card, driving licence and other valid government-issued photo IDs.
- Ticket examiners (TTEs) may verify both the ticket and the passenger's identity during inspection.
- Screenshots and WhatsApp tickets no longer valid
- One of the biggest changes is that passengers can no longer use screenshots or WhatsApp images of their tickets during ticket checks.
Railways has clarified that:
- The ticket must be displayed directly within the RailOne app linked to the registered mobile number.
- If a passenger shows only a screenshot or forwarded image instead of the live ticket in the app, it may be treated as travelling without a valid ticket.
- Such passengers could face penalties under railway rules.
- The move is intended to prevent tickets from being transferred to other people after booking.
- How to book an online general ticket
Passengers can continue booking unreserved tickets through the RailOne app by following these steps:
- Download or open the RailOne app and log in using your registered mobile number.
- Select Book Ticket or General Ticket.
- Enter your boarding and destination stations.
- Add passenger details.
- Select the type of photo ID and enter its number.
- Complete payment using UPI, debit card, credit card or net banking.
- After successful payment, the digital ticket will appear within the app, along with the linked identity information.
Why has Railways introduced the new rule?
According to railway officials, the changes are designed to:
- Prevent black marketing of railway tickets.
- Stop passengers from transferring booked tickets to others.
- Improve passenger identification during travel.
- Strengthen railway security by ensuring the person booking the ticket is the one travelling.
Officials said the system will help Railways maintain accurate passenger records while reducing misuse of digital tickets.
Who is affected?
The new rules apply only to online bookings made through the RailOne app.
Passengers purchasing unreserved tickets directly from railway ticket counters do not need to provide identity proof while booking, and the existing offline booking process remains unchanged.
Travellers planning to use RailOne from July 15 should ensure they carry the original photo ID linked to their booking, as failure to produce it during inspection could lead to penalties
Published: 14 Jul 2026, 02:22 pm IST
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