What happens to the ticket if a train is cancelled, and how do you get a refund? Check the process here..

Indian Railways has cancelled all mail and express trains arriving at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4:00 AM and 2:00 PM on October 10. This decision was taken due to a scheduled protest in Delhi on that day. Affected passengers are being informed via messages sent by the Railways. According to railway data, approximately 75,000 passengers commute through these two stations daily. The question arises: what happens to your ticket when a train is cancelled? How do you get a refund, and what is the process?

If the Railways cancels a train entirely, passengers receive a full refund of the ticket fare. In such cases, cancellation fees or clerkage charges are generally not deducted. However, the method of obtaining the refund depends on whether the ticket was booked online or purchased at a railway station counter.

1. How to get a refund for an online e-ticket?
If you booked your ticket via the IRCTC website or app and the train is fully cancelled, you do not need to cancel the ticket or apply separately for a refund. Under the railway's system, the ticket is automatically cancelled, and the refund process begins.

The money is usually credited back to the same bank account, credit card, or UPI method used during the initial booking. While it may take a few days for the refund to be processed, the actual time depends on the payment method and railway procedures.

2. Refund for tickets purchased at the counter
If you purchased your ticket at a railway station reservation counter, you must submit the ticket at a railway counter in accordance with the prescribed rules to claim a refund. To obtain a refund for a fully cancelled train, the ticket generally needs to be surrendered within 72 hours of the train's scheduled departure time. Subsequently, the refund is processed in accordance with the rules.

3. What to do if the train is partially cancelled or diverted?
If the train's route has been diverted, the train has been terminated at an intermediate station, or a portion of the journey has been cancelled, the refund process may differ. In such cases, depending on eligibility and applicable rules, you may need to file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) for online tickets. The deadline for filing this depends on the specific situation and relevant railway regulations; therefore, please check the applicable time limits on the IRCTC or official railway website before applying.

If you have not received a refund despite the train being cancelled, you can contact the railway helpline at 139 or lodge a complaint on the Rail Madad portal.

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