Increase Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of All Specials Trains
Increase Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of All Specials Trains
Indian Railways modifies instructions for 30 Special Rajdhani type train and 200 Special Mail Exp trains (total 230 trains) running with effect from 12.05.2025 and 01.06.2025 respectively
Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the advance reservation period (ARP) of all Specials notified from 30 days to 120 days
Booking of Parcel and luggage shall be permitted in all these 230 trains
The above changes shall be implemented with effect from 08:00 hrs of train booking date of 31st May 2025 onwards.
Indian Railways has modified instructions for 30 special Rajdhani type trains started w.e.f. 12.05.2025 and 200 Special Mail Express to be introduced w.e.f. 01.06.2025 (total 230 trains). Ministry of Railways has decided to increase the advance reservation period (ARP) of all Specials notified from 30 days to 120 days. Booking of Parcel and luggage shall be permitted in all these 230 trains.
The above changes shall be implemented with effect from 08:00 hrs of train booking date of 31st May 2025 onwards.
Other terms e.g., Current booking, Tatkal quota allocation of seats to road side stations etc to be same as in regular time tabled trains.
These instructions can also be viewed on the Indian Railways website-www.indianrailways.gov.in under the head commercial circulars in Traffic Commercial Directorate.
Here’s the latest official guidance from Indian Railways on the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) for Special Trains:
Contents
🧾 ARP Update for Special Trains
🔼 Historical Shift: 30 to 120 Days (2025)
- Initially, special Rajdhani and Express trains had an ARP of just 30 days.
- On 31 May 2025, the ARP was increased to 120 days for 230 newly introduced special trains, including 30 Rajdhani-type and 200 Mail/Express specials. Bookings opened from that date. ([turn0search14]turn0search19])
📉 Current Policy: 120 → 60 Days (Effective Nov 1, 2025)
- From 1 November 2025, Indian Railways reduced the ARP from 120 days back to 60 days (excluding the journey date).
- This applies to all specials and regular mail/express trains, to streamline bookings, reduce speculative reservations, and minimize no-shows. ([turn0search0]turn0search5]turn0search13])
- Bookings made before 31 October 2025 under the 120-day window remain valid. Reservations beyond 60 days are still cancellable.
- Exceptions:
- Foreign Tourist Quota (FTQ) tickets retain a 365-day ARP.
- Certain short-distance day trains like the Taj Express and Gomti Express continue with their existing shorter ARPs. ([turn0search5]turn0search13])
🧑🤝🧑 Implications for Passengers
- You can now book most special train tickets up to 60 days in advance, not farther.
- Exceptions include FTQ and specific trains which retain traditional timeframes. ([turn0search1]turn0search4])
- Tatkal and Emergency Quotas:
- Tatkal bookings open per existing rules (usually 1 day in advance of travel, subject to train policies).
- Emergency Quota requests must now be submitted at least one day before travel after revised chart-preparation rules. ([turn0news24]turn0search16])
✅ Quick Reference Table
| Period | Advance Reservation Period (ARP) | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 May 2025 | 30 days | New specials & earlier trains |
| 31 May – 31 Oct 2025 | 120 days | All special & mail/express trains |
| From 1 Nov 2025 | 60 days | Regular & special trains |
Special Cases:
- FTQ tickets ➝ 365‑day ARP
- Short-distance day trains (e.g., Taj Express) ➝ retain existing ARP limits
🎯 Why the Change?
- Improve planning: Shorter booking window aligns demand with actual travel intent.
- Reduce no-shows: Over 21% of bookings made beyond 60 days were canceled; 5% were never used. The change reduces such wastage. ([turn0search5]turn0search13])
- Efficient resource allocation for managing peak demand periods and peak special services.
🧭 What You Should Know
- Use the 60-day window to plan all regular or special train bookings (excluding exceptions).
- Check train-specific ARP details before booking.
- Tatkal continues as before, per class and train category.
- Emergency Quota must be applied a day in advance—no same-day allocation.
Would you like help with:
- A calendar reminder for when bookings open for a specific travel date?
- FAQs or step-by-step on using Tatkal or EQ tickets?
- Train-specific ARP or quota policies (e.g. for premium or tourist trains)?
Happy to assist further!