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Railway zones have been given the flexibility to fix their own waitlist caps depending on the booking and cancellation trends of specific trains.
This decision aims to reduce the stress and confusion faced by passengers holding non-confirmed tickets. (Image: Representative)
In a major change to its booking system, Indian Railways has started limiting the number of wait-listed tickets.
Now, only 25 percent of the total seats in each class—AC First, AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper, and Chair Car—will be issued as wait-listed tickets.
This decision follows a new circular from the Railway Board and has already begun to roll out across different zones, as per Times Of India.
Why This Change?
The move comes as a relief to many passengers who face confusion and stress when their tickets are not confirmed. According to railway officials, around 20 percent to 25 percent of wait-listed tickets usually get confirmed by the time the final passenger chart is made. By capping the number of wait-listed tickets, the Railways hopes to reduce uncertainty and prevent overcrowding in reserved coaches.
Old vs New System
Earlier, the Railways allowed up to 30 wait-listed tickets for AC First Class, 100 for AC 2-Tier, 300 for AC 3-Tier, and 400 for Sleeper Class, as per a 2013 guideline. This often resulted in a mismatch between the number of confirmed passengers and those actually boarding the train. People with unconfirmed tickets would sometimes still board reserved coaches, creating chaos and discomfort for confirmed passengers.
Zonal Control and Flexibility
Each railway zone will now decide its own cap on wait-listed tickets based on booking trends and cancellation patterns of specific trains. This flexible approach allows zones to adjust limits according to regional demand.
Railway officials believe this policy will make train travel more comfortable and predictable. It’s a step forward in managing crowds and offering passengers a clearer idea of their ticket status.
With this passenger-friendly move, Indian Railways aims to bring more order and transparency to the booking process, making journeys smoother and less stressful for everyone.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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