Every day, trains are used by billions of people, and among them, frequent travelers are the ones who are mostly likely to miss a train that is scheduled. But what would be the case like that? Can you simply take the next train with the same ticket or do you have to ask for a refund?The Indian Railways have specific provisions for each type of ticket you may be holding.

Rules for General (Unreserved) Ticket Holders

The general ticket rules state that if a passenger is traveling with such a ticket and misses a train, the ticket will be valid for a maximum period of three hours from the time of issue or until the next train, whichever comes first. However, unreserved class is the only one allowed for such a ticket.

General tickets are not applicable for the premium trains such as Mail, Express, Superfast, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat. If a passenger is detected traveling with a general ticket on these trains, he will have to bear a huge fine and sometimes, he will be asked to pay the entire fare along with the fine.

Rules for Reserved Ticket Holders

Reserved ticket holders will not be able to use the same ticket for another train in case they miss their train. They will also be penalised for this, and the ticket checking officer (TTE) can even do so by imposing a fine.

Refund Rules If You Miss Your Train

In the event that you do not catch your train, a refund, either partial or full, may be granted to you according to the circumstances. It is necessary for the passengers to submit a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) without delay if their travel is cancelled. In a majority of the situations, the ticket amount is not refunded entirely.

However, the passenger will receive a complete refund in case the train is delayed for more than three hours past the planned time and he/she would not like to take the journey.

Reserved Seats and Two-Station Rule

In case you fail to get on your reserved train at the starting point, the TTE is not allowed to transfer your reserve seat to another passenger for the next two stops. Therefore, you still have the right to sit in your place if you get on the same train at the next two stations.

Knowing the regulations will not only save travelers from incurring unwarranted penalties but also help them to make the right choices in case of train missed.