Indian Railways Adjusts Advance Reservation Period Due to ‘No Show’ Trend

The Indian Ministry of Railways has announced a significant change to its advance reservation policy for train bookings. Effective from November 1, 2024, the Railway Board will shorten the advance reservation period (ARP) from the existing 120 days to 60 days. This decision aims to enhance the availability of tickets for genuine travelers and address issues of cancellations and no-shows.

The Railway Ministry stated in a recent circular, “The decision will help the Railway Board to improve the visibility of genuine demand for rail travel in India.” This adjustment is intended to provide better travel planning clarity for passengers by reducing instances where tickets are booked months in advance, only to be canceled later.

An official from the Railway Board commented, “It was being noticed that about 21 percent of reservations done for 61 to 120 day periods were getting cancelled.” In addition, 5 percent of passengers were neither canceling their tickets nor taking the planned journey, creating a phenomenon termed as ‘No Show’.

This trend of ‘No Show’ was a significant factor prompting the revision of the ARP policy, as it also impacted the planning of special trains during peak seasons. The Ministry highlights that this change will help prevent wasteful resources utilization and reduce fraudulent activities like impersonation and the illegal resale of tickets.

The revision in the ARP was first made on January 1, 2015, shifting from 60 to 120 days, with the last similar adjustment occurring between 1995 and 1998 when the period was reduced to 30 days. However, this latest alteration brings the ARP back to a 60-day window, designed to reduce the financial burden on travelers who previously had to block funds in advance for rail tickets during festival and holiday seasons.

Some express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, are exempt from this change and will continue to operate under current shorter reservation periods. Furthermore, the 365-day ARP for foreign tourists remains unchanged. All bookings made prior to October 31, 2024, under the previous 120-day ARP, will retain their validity.

The Ministry advises passengers to familiarize themselves with this change, encouraging timely bookings within the revised ARP to facilitate smoother travel planning. With more than 85 percent of bookings occurring less than two months in advance, the shortened ARP is expected to minimize issues of ticket hoarding and enhance the availability of seats for authentic passengers.