Indian Railways Revises Ticket Booking Rules for 2025: Major Updates in Lower Berth Allocation and Advance Reservations

Indian Railways Announces New Ticket Booking Rules for 2025: What Passengers Must Know

The Indian Railways has introduced significant changes to its train ticket booking system for 2025, aiming to improve passenger convenience, transparency, and accessibility. The new rules impact several areas, including lower berth allocation, sleeping time regulations, and a reduction in the advance reservation period (ARP). These changes are set to streamline the booking process and make travel more comfortable, especially for senior citizens and women passengers.

Revised Lower Berth Policy

One of the most notable updates in the new guidelines concerns the allocation of lower berths. Indian Railways will continue to prioritize senior citizens, women above 45 years of age, and pregnant women for lower berths to ensure their safety and comfort during travel.

If a lower berth is unavailable during booking, eligible passengers will be allotted an upper or middle berth, but they will remain on the waiting list for a lower berth. During the journey, if a lower berth becomes vacant, the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) has the authority to reassign it to an eligible passenger.

To enhance user control, an online booking option has also been introduced, allowing passengers to book tickets only if a lower berth is available. This ensures that travelers with specific needs are not inconvenienced at the time of journey.

New Sleeping Time Guidelines

To ensure smoother travel experiences and minimize disputes among passengers, the Railways has now defined official sleeping hours in reserved compartments — from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

During this period, only the passenger with the lower berth will have the right to occupy the berth for sleeping. During the day, all passengers are expected to share the seating space and allow others to sit comfortably.

Additionally, RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) ticket holders will be able to use the seats under a special seat-sharing arrangement during daytime travel, ensuring that even partially confirmed passengers have a fair chance at comfort.

Advance Reservation Period (ARP) Reduced

Another significant policy change is the reduction in the advance reservation period. Earlier, passengers could book train tickets up to 120 days before the journey date. However, starting in 2025, this window has been reduced to 60 days.

This change aims to:

• Make ticket booking more practical and efficient.

• Increase the chances of securing confirmed tickets closer to the travel date.

• Reduce last-minute cancellations and unused bookings, which often lead to ticket shortages.

By shortening the booking window, Indian Railways hopes to create a more dynamic and realistic reservation system that reflects actual travel demand.

Digital Upgrade: The Launch of RailOne App

In a move toward greater digitization, the Railways has launched a new integrated mobile application — RailOne. The app brings together all booking-related services on a single platform, simplifying the process for passengers.

Through RailOne, users can:

• Book or cancel tickets

• Check live train status

• View seat availability

• Access passenger amenities and updates

Railways officials have encouraged passengers to use this digital platform to make bookings smoother and faster while taking advantage of new rule-based features like lower berth selection and real-time seat preferences.

A Step Toward Smarter and Safer Train Travel

The revised ticket booking rules mark a major modernization effort by Indian Railways. By prioritizing senior citizens, women, and digital integration, the system is becoming more inclusive and transparent.

While these updates may require passengers to adapt to new processes, they are designed to enhance overall efficiency and comfort. With shorter booking windows, clearly defined sleep hours, and digital convenience, the Indian Railways is taking another step toward creating a more passenger-friendly and future-ready travel experience.