October 18, 2024 — In a significant change, Indian Railways has announced that the period for advance ticket booking will be reduced from 120 days to 60 days starting November 1, 2024. The Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) made this change public via Commercial Circular No. 10 of 2024, issued to streamline ticket reservations for passengers.
According to the new policy, train tickets can now be booked up to 60 days in advance (excluding the journey date), compared to the earlier limit of 120 days. However, bookings already made under the existing 120-day window until October 31, 2024, will remain valid.
The circular also clarifies the following points:
- Cancellations of bookings made beyond the 60-day window will be allowed.
- Certain daytime express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, will retain their current shorter booking windows.
- The 365-day booking limit for foreign tourists remains unchanged.
This adjustment is part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to optimize operations and enhance passenger convenience. By halving the reservation period, the railway authorities aim to reduce speculative bookings and provide better availability for genuine travelers closer to the date of travel.
Passengers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly as the new policy takes effect next month.
