No fee for changing travel date from 2026: Indian Railways | Fusion - WeRIndia

Indian Railways is all set to make travel more convenient and cost-effective for millions of passengers.

Starting January 2026, travellers will be able to change the date of their journey online without paying any extra charges, even for confirmed tickets.

This new policy, announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is expected to bring major relief to passengers who often face last-minute plan changes.

At present, changing travel dates involves cancelling the original ticket and booking a new one.

This process not only costs money but also creates uncertainty, especially when there’s no guarantee of getting a confirmed seat again.

Cancellation charges depend on how early the ticket is cancelled. If done 48 to 12 hours before departure, a 25% deduction applies.

Between 12 and 4 hours, the fee increases further. No refunds are issued after the reservation chart is prepared.

Vaishnaw called this system unfair and outdated, saying it does not serve the best interests of passengers.

The new rule will allow date changes without the hassle of cancellation and rebooking.

It will help passengers avoid the risk of losing confirmed tickets and paying higher fares for new bookings.

With this reform, Indian Railways aims to reduce financial stress and booking anxiety for passengers.

The change also supports digital convenience, as all rescheduling can be done online, without visiting ticket counters.

In a separate development, the government has approved four major multi-tracking railway projects across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh.

The total investment stands at ₹24,634 crore, and the projects will add 894 km to the rail network.

The key projects include:

• Wardha-Bhusawal (3rd & 4th line) – 314 km
• Gondia-Dongargarh (4th line) – 84 km
• Vadodara-Ratlam (3rd & 4th line) – 259 km
• Itarsi-Bhopal-Bina (4th line) – 237 km

These expansions will increase capacity, reduce congestion, and improve train operations in 18 districts.

Together, these changes mark a major transformation towards making Indian Railways more passenger-friendly and efficient.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on February 17, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/743548