Indian Railways Reduces Ticket Booking Window

The Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the advance reservation period for train tickets from 120 days to 60 days, effective November 1, 2024. This decision aims to offer more flexibility for passengers, allowing them to book tickets closer to their travel dates and potentially reducing cancellations and vacant seats. Notably, the new rule will not affect certain express trains with already shorter booking windows, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, nor the 365-day period for foreign tourists. This change reverses the 2015 policy that extended the booking period to 120 days. Passengers with existing reservations under the old policy will not be impacted, and cancellations beyond the new 60-day period will still be permitted. The move is part of broader efforts by the Railways to optimize operations, including the use of artificial intelligence to enhance booking systems and improve service quality.