Indian Railways Reduces Advance Reservation Period to Combat No-Show Trend
In a bid to promote genuine travelers and address the rising trend of no-shows, Indian Railways has announced a reduction in the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) from 120 days to 60 days, effective November 1, 2024. This change aims to enhance the visibility of actual rail travel demand and aid the Railway Board in planning special trains more effectively.
The Ministry of Railways noted that approximately 21% of reservations made between 61 to 120 days in advance were being canceled, with an additional 5% of passengers not showing up without canceling their tickets. This no-show phenomenon has contributed to the decision to revise the ARP, which is expected to improve ticket availability for genuine travelers and reduce wasted reserved berths.
Certain express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, will maintain the shorter advance reservation limits, while the 365-day ARP for foreign tourists remains unchanged. All existing bookings made under the previous 120-day ARP will still be valid, and reservations beyond the new 60-day limit will remain eligible for cancellation.
The reduction in the ARP is anticipated to enhance clarity in travel plans and lower the current 21% cancellation rate. This marks the first revision of the ARP since it was extended to 120 days in January 2015; prior to that, it had been as low as 30 days between September 1995 and January 1998.
Indian Railways encourages passengers to take note of this change and book early within the new 60-day window to ensure smoother travel planning, while also helping to mitigate ticket hoarding and fraud.
