When do train tickets get upgraded, and how can you book to always benefit from it?

Train Auto Upgradation Rules: If you don't click on this option while booking your train ticket, your ticket won't be upgraded. Learn how and when your ticket gets upgraded.

Approximately 25 million passengers travel daily on Indian Railways. It is the world's fourth-largest railway system. Over time, the railways are constantly modernizing and adding new facilities for passengers.

Many passengers are unaware of some specific railway rules while traveling by train. Several of these rules directly benefit passengers without any extra cost. One such rule is ticket upgradation, which can make your journey more comfortable.

What is ticket upgradation? In simple terms, it's a facility provided by the railways. When you book a ticket through IRCTC, you get an auto-upgradation option. The purpose is to shift the passenger to a better class if a seat is available in another class.

Under this facility, if you have booked a Sleeper Class ticket, it can be upgraded to Third AC. Similarly, a Third AC ticket can be upgraded to Second AC, and a Second AC ticket to First AC. No extra charge is levied on passengers for this.

Now, the question is, how does ticket upgradation work? The most important thing is that auto-upgradation is not applied automatically. You have to select this option yourself while booking the ticket. If you don't select it, you will not be eligible for this facility.

Let's say you booked a ticket in Sleeper Class, and it went into the waiting list. If there are no vacant seats in Sleeper Class at the time of travel, but there are vacant seats in Third AC on the same train, your ticket can be confirmed in Third AC.

If you fill out a form for a reservation, the auto-upgradation option is available at the top. When booking tickets through the IRCTC website or app, this option appears at the bottom. If you always click on this option, you will have a chance to get your ticket upgraded.