Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 8: In a major passenger-friendly move, Indian Railways will soon allow travellers to change the date of travel on confirmed tickets online without paying any fee, union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Tuesday.

The new system, set to roll out from January 2026, is aimed at easing the process for passengers who face last-minute changes in travel plans.

At present, travellers must cancel their ticket and rebook, which not only involves a tedious process but also results in deductions based on the time of cancellation. “This system is unfair and not in the interest of passengers,” Vaishnaw said, adding that instructions have been issued to implement the new, simplified policy.

While the new system allows flexibility, the railway minister cautioned that the availability of confirmed seats on the new date will depend on existing bookings. Moreover, if the fare on the rescheduled date is higher, passengers will be required to pay the difference.

Currently, cancelling a confirmed ticket 48 to 12 hours before departure leads to a 25% deduction from the fare. The charges rise further for cancellations between 12 and 4 hours before departure. Once the reservation chart is prepared, refunds are generally not granted.

The move is expected to benefit millions of passengers by saving them from hefty cancellation charges while allowing them to adjust travel dates more conveniently.