New Waiting Ticket Rules: Can You Travel With a Waiting Ticket? Here’s What You Must Know!

New Waiting Ticket Rules: Millions of people travel on Indian Railways every day, and getting a confirmed ticket is often a major challenge. In such situations, a waiting ticket is the only hope. However, many people are not fully aware of the rules and regulations for traveling with a waiting ticket. The rules for online waiting tickets and counter-bought waiting tickets are different. In this post, we will discuss in detail how you can travel with a waiting ticket and what things are important to keep in mind.

Rules for Online Waiting Tickets

If a ticket booked online remains on the waiting list even after the chart is prepared, it is automatically canceled. The cancellation process begins after the train departs, and the ticket fare is refunded to your bank account within three to four working days, although some minor charges are deducted.

Important Points:

• No Permission to Travel: It is completely illegal to travel on a train with an online waiting ticket that has not been confirmed.
• Penalty: If you travel with such a ticket, you will be considered a ticketless passenger and may be fined. You could even be deboarded at the next station.

Rules for Counter Waiting Tickets

The rules for waiting tickets bought from the counter are slightly different from online tickets. If you have a waiting ticket for sleeper, AC, or any other class and it remains on the waiting list after the chart is prepared, you have a few options.

Possible Scenarios:

• If there are no empty seats: If there are no vacant seats in your booked class, the TTE (Travel Ticket Examiner) may request you to move to the general compartment. In that case, you can travel with your existing waiting ticket without any extra charges.
• If empty seats are available: If there are vacant seats in your booked class, the TTE will allocate a seat to you without any additional payment.
• If you disobey the rules: If you refuse to move to the general compartment despite the TTE’s request or insist on staying in your booked class with a waiting ticket, you may be deboarded at the next station and fined. You can then continue your journey in the general compartment with your waiting ticket.

It is important to remember that a TTE cannot allocate you a seat in a higher class (e.g., AC from a sleeper ticket) by charging the difference in fare. The old rules, where passengers could occupy seats or common areas with waiting tickets, are no longer valid. This change has been made to ensure the comfort and privacy of passengers.