The Hindu Business Line : Cancellation of train tickets to cost more

CANCELLING train tickets has now become costlier, with the Railways deciding to double most of the standard cancellation charges on tickets cancelled over a day in advance.

The exception is for tickets booked under unreserved second class — they would continue to be levied a cancellation charge of Rs 10 per passenger. The new charges came into effect for tickets cancelled on or after December 25.

When contacted, top Railway officials insisted that the "move is not a revenue maximising measure, it is aimed at discouraging touts who book bulk tickets in advance."

Waitlisted and RAC tickets for second reserved and all other classes would now be levied a "clerkage" charge of Rs 20 upon cancellation instead of the previous level of Rs 10, said an official statement.

"The Ministry of Railways has decided to revise the clerkage charges levied on cancellation of unreserved, RAC and waiting list tickets and cancellation charges levied on cancellation of reserved tickets," it said.

The charges to be levied on cancellation of reserved tickets, surrendered more that one day in advance (excluding the day of journey) have been doubled and are now set at Rs 20 for second class, Rs 40 for sleeper class, Rs 60 for AC chair car, AC 3-tier, first class and AC 2-tier per passenger. For AC First and executive classes, the cancellation charges have been revised to Rs 70 from Rs 50.

There has been no change in cancellation charges of reserved tickets between four hours and 24 hours before the departure of the train from the place of origin — 75 per cent of the ticket price would be refunded. Similarly, tickets cancelled less than four hours before the train departs would continue to get 50 per cent as refund.