TrainsDateIRCTC Ticket Cancellation & Refund Rules 2026: Full Breakdown
How much you get back when you cancel a train ticket depends entirely on your ticket status and how close to departure you cancel. Here's the full breakdown for confirmed, RAC, and waiting-list tickets.
Cancellation Charges for Confirmed Tickets
| Time Before Departure | Cancellation Charge |
|---|---|
| 48+ hours | Flat charge based on class (e.g. ₹120 for Sleeper, ₹180 for AC 3-Tier) |
| 12 to 48 hours | 25% of fare (minimum the flat charge) |
| 4 to 12 hours | 50% of fare (minimum the flat charge) |
| Under 4 hours | No refund typically applicable |
These are standard slabs — always confirm the exact figure on IRCTC before cancelling, since they can vary slightly by train and class.
RAC and Waiting List Tickets
RAC and WL e-tickets cancelled before the chart is prepared attract a flat minimum cancellation charge per passenger (not the percentage slabs above). If a WL e-ticket is still waiting when the chart is prepared, it is automatically cancelled and refunded in full — no manual cancellation or TDR needed.
What Is a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt)?
A TDR is what you file when you want a refund in situations the automatic system doesn't cover — for example, the train was cancelled, significantly delayed, you missed it due to a late connecting train, or you had a confirmed ticket but didn't travel and want a refund after chart preparation (in specific eligible cases). TDR must usually be filed within a defined window (commonly before or shortly after the train's scheduled departure) via the IRCTC website or app, and refunds after TDR processing typically take a few days to a few weeks.
Partial Cancellation (Some Passengers, Not All)
If your ticket has multiple passengers, you can cancel individual passengers instead of the whole ticket — each cancelled passenger's fare is refunded per the same slabs above, while the remaining passengers keep their confirmed berths.
Useful tools: IRCTC booking date calculator