Indian Railways may cut advance ticket booking window from 60 to 30

Indian Railways may cut advance ticket booking window from 60 to 30–45 days

The proposal, based on years of booking data, is still under review and will not take effect until a formal decision is made.

By SafarSamachar Desk13 Nov 2026, 7:12 pm IST

Illustration

Illustration: SafarSamachar Pix Desk, created with AI assistance. Not a photograph of the event.

Key facts at a glance

1Passengers can currently book tickets up to 60 days in advance
2No final decision has been made on the proposed change
3The RAC system is under review for possible improvements or scrapping

Indian Railways is considering reducing the advance ticket booking window from 60 days to 30–45 days, according to reports. The proposal was prepared after analysing ticket booking data over several years and is based on current passenger reservation trends.

The existing 60-day advance booking period will remain in place until a formal decision is announced. Indian Railways is also reviewing the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) system, which allows two passengers to share a single berth if no full berth is available.

The Railway Board is reviewing whether to scrap the RAC system entirely. Alternatives under consideration include providing a full berth or charging a lower fare for shared berths.

An RAC passenger may be upgraded to a confirmed berth if a cancellation occurs.

The proposed changes aim to improve passenger convenience and balance fare with facilities provided. However, the current system will not change until a formal decision is made.

What this means for Indian travellers

If you are booking tickets now, the 60-day advance window remains in place. Wait for an official announcement before planning trips based on any potential reduction. The RAC system may be scrapped altogether, so keep an eye on updates from Indian Railways regarding this as well.

More details

What alternative booking options will be offered to passengers if the RAC system is scrapped?

The Railways plan to give passengers a full berth rather than sharing, lower the fare, and offer an alternative upgrade arrangement for better berth allocation.

providing a full berth to passengers instead of making two passengers share one
charging a lower fare for passengers
introducing an alternative upgrade arrangement to improve berth allocation

Source: THE WEEK Magazine

ToolWhen does train booking open for your date? Check the calculator

Sources

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above, following our accuracy rules; it has not yet been individually reviewed by an editor. Read our editorial policy.Rules and schedules change - confirm with the airline or embassy before you travel. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Source Verification

For official notices, schedules, or policy compliance frameworks, verify details directly via Indian Railways (IRCTC).