New Delhi: Cancelling confirmed tickets on newly launched Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will now be costlier for passengers, with the Railways notifying stricter cancellation norms for the premium service.
Under the new rules, a 25 per cent deduction will apply if a confirmed ticket is cancelled anytime after booking. If cancellation is made between 72 hours and eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train, passengers will face a 50 per cent deduction. No refund will be granted if tickets are cancelled less than eight hours before departure.
Railway officials said the provision has been introduced as reservation charts for these trains are now prepared eight hours before departure, compared to the earlier four-hour norm. The cancellation policy for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains is significantly stricter than that of other services, including Vande Bharat chair-car trains.
Officials explained that only confirmed tickets will be issued for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, with no provision for reservation against cancellation (RAC). As a result, the time window for cancellations has been reduced and refund amounts revised.
In contrast, existing rules for other trains provide for a flat cancellation charge if tickets are cancelled up to 48 hours before departure—₹240 for First AC, ₹200 for AC 2-tier, ₹180 for AC 3-tier, ₹120 for Sleeper and ₹60 for Second Class. A 25 per cent deduction applies for cancellations between 48 and 12 hours, while a 50 per cent cut is levied for cancellations between 12 and four hours before departure. No refund is allowed if tickets are not cancelled or a ticket deposit receipt is not filed online up to four hours before departure.
The Railway Board has also clarified that for Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, the minimum chargeable distance will be 400 km. Reservation quotas will be limited to women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and duty pass holders, with no other quotas applicable. (Agencies)
