Indian Railways Launches Trial to Confirm Tickets for Waiting Passengers 24 Hours Before Departure
In a move aimed at providing greater certainty to passengers, Indian Railways has begun a trial to confirm the status of waiting list passengers 24 hours before a train’s departure. The trial, which is currently underway in the Bikaner Division, aims to address the concerns of passengers who remain uncertain about their journey due to a waiting ticket.
According to the Railway Ministry, the current practice of notifying passengers just 4 hours before departure can cause inconvenience to those with waiting tickets. To alleviate this, the Ministry has launched a pilot project that will provide passengers with a confirmed status 24 hours before departure. "We have started this pilot project in the Bikaner Division, where charts are being prepared 24 hours before the train departure," said Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board. "The current practice is doing so before 4 hours."
The trial is designed to allow passengers to plan their travel better, should their ticket be confirmed. However, officials have also cautioned that once a ticket is confirmed, passengers will lose a substantial chunk of the ticket amount as penalty in case of cancellation. According to the cancellation policy, if a confirmed ticket is cancelled between 48 hours and 12 hours before departure, passengers will receive 25% of the ticket amount back. If cancelled between 12 hours and 4 hours before departure, they will receive only 50%.
The Railway Ministry has assured that the pilot project will become part of the policy only after receiving a positive response from passengers. "Now, if they know 24 hours before that their tickets are confirmed, they can plan their travel better," Mr. Kumar added.
As part of the trial, seats or berths falling vacant due to cancellation will be filled up through the current booking system. The Ministry has also stated that the confirmed status of waiting list passengers will be announced 24 hours before departure, providing passengers with greater certainty and allowing them to make necessary arrangements.
The pilot project is a significant step towards improving the passenger experience, and the Railway Ministry is optimistic that it will receive a positive response from passengers. As reported by The Hindu, the trial is currently underway in the Bikaner Division, and the Ministry will evaluate its success before rolling it out nationwide.
The development is part of Indian Railways’ efforts to enhance passenger convenience and provide a better travel experience. With the trial, passengers can now plan their travel with greater certainty, and the Railway Ministry aims to make the process more efficient and passenger-friendly. As noted by The Hindu, the confirmed status of waiting list passengers will be announced 24 hours before departure, providing passengers with greater certainty and allowing them to make necessary arrangements.
In related news, Indian Railways has been taking several steps to improve passenger experience, including the implementation of new technologies and the upgrade of existing infrastructure. The trial to confirm tickets for waiting passengers 24 hours before departure is part of these efforts, and The Hindu has been providing extensive coverage of the development.
