Counter Ticket Cancellation Rules – IRCTC

Counter Ticket Cancellation Rules – IRCTC

1. This may be applicable only in case valid mobile number has been given at the time of booking.

2. Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare may be permitted for PRS counter tickets in normal circumstances only and not in case of late running of trains/cancellation of train etc.

3. Online cancellation shall be permitted only upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train if ticket is fully confirmed.

4. Online cancellation shall be permitted only upto 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train if ticket is RAC/Waitlist.

5. For tickets cancelled (including return journey tickets) before 24 hours of scheduled train departure time:

• Refund of fare as permissible can be collected on submission of original PRS counter ticket from any PRS counter of Indian Railways upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure time of the train in case of confirmed tickets and upto thirty minutes before the scheduled departure time of train in case of RAC/waitlisted tickets.

6. For tickets cancelled (including return journey tickets) between 24 hours and upto 4 hours for the confirmed tickets and upto thirty minutes for RAC/waitlisted tickets before the scheduled departure time: Refund of cancelled PRS counter tickets through IRCTC website or 139 at present is permitted only at the journey commencing station or nearby satellite PRS locations by surrendering original journey ticket. Please check the convenience of collecting refund from journey commencing station before cancelling your ticket

• During first two hours of the opening of PRS counters on the next day for the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure as under:- time is (i) between 1801 hours and 0600 hours.

• Upto 4 hours after the scheduled departure of the train during the working hours of PRS counters/current counters/special counters where cancellation is permitted round the clock on the tickets for the trains whose scheduled departure time is (i) between 0601 hours and 1800 hours.

7. Passenger details (Viz.name, age, gender, booking status, current status) and journey details will be displayed on the website.

8. Once the passenger confirms full cancellation of PNR will be done and PNR will be marked as Cancelled but not refunded in the system. Seat/berth will be released. Refund amount due will also be displayed to the passenger on website

9. All the privilege/duty pass/PTOs/complimentary pass tickets may be allowed to be cancelled through website. In the case of pass zero refund is permissible however, for validity of the pass for fresh booking the passenger shall approach the counter to get the pass re-validated by marking the same cancelled against the earlier booked tickets as per prescribed rule.

PTO’s tickets are issued on 1/3rd of the total basic fares and normal cancellation charge is applicable in these tickets also. Therefore in many cases ticket value on PTOs is less than the cancellation charges therefore passengers may or may not cancel the tickets therefore cancellation across IRCTC website may be allowed in the case of PTOs also.

Here’s a complete and updated summary of the Counter Ticket Cancellation Rules under IRCTC and Indian Railways:

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🧾 1. Online Cancellation Now Available

• As of March 29, 2025, passengers who provided a valid mobile number at the counter during booking can cancel their counter (PRS) tickets online via the IRCTC website or by calling 139. ([turn0search1]turn0search2turn0search6)
• Refund must still be collected in person by surrendering the original physical ticket at a PRS reservation counter. ([turn0search1]turn0search2turn0search6)

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📋 2. Timing Rules for Online Cancellation

Ticket Status	Last Time for Online Cancellation
Confirmed Ticket	Up to 4 hours before departure
RAC / Waitlisted	Up to 30 minutes before scheduled departure
These rules are aligned with the Railway Passengers (Cancellation & Refund of Fares) Rules, 2015. ([turn0search3]turn0search4turn0search8)

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🔧 3. Eligibility Conditions & Exclusions

• Valid mobile number must be given at the time of booking. Otherwise, online cancellation isn’t permitted. ([turn0search3]turn0search4turn0search8)
• Not allowed in cases where:
  • The train is running late,
  • The train is fully cancelled—in such cases, cancellation must be done on-site at the reservation counter. ([turn0search3]turn0search4)

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📱 4. How to Cancel Online (IRCTC / 139)

1. Visit IRCTC → select “Cancel Ticket → Counter Ticket”, or call 139 and choose IVR option 6. ([turn0search10]turn0search9turn0search11)
2. Enter PNR, train number, and CAPTCHA.
3. Agree to rules and submit; you receive a one-time OTP on your registered mobile.
4. Verify the OTP and confirm cancellation.
5. You will see the refund amount and get an SMS with details and instructions for collecting the refund at a PRS counter. ([turn0search10]turn0search11)

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💵 5. Refund Collection & Timing

• Within the permitted online cancellation window:
  • Refund is available by surrendering the original ticket at any PRS counter.
• If missed timings:
  • Must collect refund at the journey commencement station or designated satellite PRS locations.
• Special time rules:
  • Trains departing between 6:01 PM – 6:00 AM → refund can be collected during the first 2 hours of PRS counter opening next day.
  • For trains departing between 6:01 AM – 6:00 PM → refunds available up to 4 hours after departure, during counter hours. ([turn0search4]turn0search9turn0search11)

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ℹ️ 6. Cancellation Charges & Policies

• Cancellation charges for counter tickets follow standard IRCTC rules:
  • Confirmed e‑tickets:

    • 48 hrs before: flat charges (e.g. ₹240 for 1A, ₹200 for 2A, ₹180 for 3A/CC/3E, ₹120 for Sleeper, ₹60 for 2S) × per passenger.

    • 48–12 hrs before departure: 25% of fare (subject to minimum slab).
    • 12–4 hrs before departure (up to chart): 50% of fare (subject to minimum slab).
  • RAC/Waitlist e‑tickets: online cancellation allowed up to 30 min before departure. ([turn0search0]turn0reddit20)
• For RAC/waitlisted counter tickets, cancellation follows similar charges—but refunds don’t occur if rules are violated (e.g. missing the time cutoff). ([turn0reddit20]turn0news13)

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⚠️ 7. Risk of Traveling on a WL Counter Ticket

• Waiting list counter tickets are now invalid for travel, regardless of class.
• If caught travelling with a counter WL ticket:
  • You must pay travel fare and face a minimum ₹440 penalty.
  • The ticket is void and travel is not permitted. ([turn0reddit18])

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🧾 8. User Experiences & Pitfalls

• Reddit users report having to pay full fare again when boarding without the physical ticket, even with a valid photo or soft copy. Physical ticket is mandatory. ([turn0reddit19])
• Others note that online cancellation helps, but refund must be collected from the same counter or station of booking. ([turn0reddit17])

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✅ Summary Table

Rule Category	Details
Online Cancellation	Available if mobile number was provided during booking; via IRCTC or 139
Time Limits	Confirmed: up to 4 hrs before; RAC/WL: up to 30 min before departure
Refund Collection	Must surrender original NR counter ticket at PRS counter
Exclusions	No online cancellation if train delayed or cancelled
Cancellation Charges	As per standard IRCTC rules based on class & timing
WL Travel	Counter waiting-list tickets invalid; traveling with them incurs fines

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Would you like help with:

• Locating the nearest reservation counter for refund?
• Checking fare penalties for specific train classes?
• Step-by-step help with online cancellation or TDR process?