Planning to cancel your Indian Railways ticket? These are the charges you will have to pay

There is always rush at Indian Railways station windows for either booking or cancelling tickets. When it comes to cancelling a ticket either be reserved or wait-listed, a refund facility is provided by the railways. However, it needs to be noted that, not all the amount of your ticket will be recovered in cancellation. In fact, there are charges levied for doing so. There are new refund rules given by railways in order to keep a check of misuse practice, facilitate passengers with paperless ticketing, eliminate touts or agents in black marketing and automatic refund. 

If you are cancelling your ticket, then you should be aware of 5 refund rules of Indian Railways. 

1. If a passenger cancels tickets which are unreserved, waitlisted and RAC - then charges of Rs 30 (unserved second class) and Rs 60 (second and other classes) are levied. 

2. If your ticket falls under reserved category then following charges are applicable:

A. If cancelled 48 before the scheduled departure of the train - then Rs 240 on 1st AC/executives class, Rs 200 on 2nd AC class, Rs 180 on 3AC/ACC/3A economy class, Rs 120 on second sleeper class and Rs 60 on second class is charged. 

B. If the ticket is cancelled between 48 hours and 12 hours before the scheduled train departure, then the passenger will pay 25% extra on the above mentioned charges. 

C.  If the ticket is cancelled between 12 hours and 4 hours before the scheduled train departure, then the amount of the above charges will be 50% higher. 

D. No refund will be given if your reserved ticket is cancelled after after 4 hours left for scheduled train departure. 

3. Refund is allowed on partially confirmed ticket as well. However, the cancellation process is available up to half an hour left for the scheduled train departure. 

4. Refund on unused RAC/WL tickets: Upto half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train subject to deduction of clerkage charge. No refund after the above prescribed time limit.

5. In case of cancellation of trains for e tickets: Automatic refund is granted. Filing of TDR is not required. No change for counter PRS ticket.

Hence, remember the above mentioned refund rules during cancellation of your ticket. If your ticket is reserved make sure to cancel them before 48 hours of departure, the burden of charges will be less during those time and you will recover maximum amount of your tickets.