Passengers travelling on Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II trains will now face stricter ticket cancellation rules, with no refund allowed if a confirmed ticket is cancelled less than eight hours before departure.
The new rules were announced by the Railway Ministry through a notification dated January 16, bringing changes to the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015.
Vande Bharat Sleeper, Amrit Bharat II: What Has Changed?
Under the revised norms, passengers cancelling confirmed tickets on these premium trains will face higher cancellation charges compared to other services.
Key Changes at a Glance:
This marks a stricter policy than regular trains, where refunds are allowed up to four hours before departure, albeit with deductions.
Why Are Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II Different?
A senior railway official explained that these trains follow a 100% confirmed berth policy, unlike conventional trains.
“In Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II, passengers are either given confirmed berths or none at all. There is no concept of shared or partially confirmed berths,” the official said.
In contrast, in regular trains:
Cancellation Rules for Other Trains Remain Unchanged
For trains other than Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II, the existing cancellation structure continues:
25% charge if cancelled 48 to 12 hours before departure
50% charge if cancelled 12 to 4 hours before departure
No refund if cancelled within 4 hours of departure
Amrit Bharat II Trains: What You Should Know
The Railways also clarified that:
have already been flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17 and 18, 2026.
Why Indian Railways Tightened the Rules
According to railway officials, the move aims to:
What Passengers Should Keep in Mind
The new rules were announced by the Railway Ministry through a notification dated January 16, bringing changes to the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015.
Vande Bharat Sleeper, Amrit Bharat II: What Has Changed?
Under the revised norms, passengers cancelling confirmed tickets on these premium trains will face higher cancellation charges compared to other services.Key Changes at a Glance:
- No refund if a confirmed ticket is cancelled within 8 hours of departure
- 25% cancellation charge if cancelled more than 72 hours in advance
- 50% cancellation charge if cancelled between 72 and 8 hours before departure
This marks a stricter policy than regular trains, where refunds are allowed up to four hours before departure, albeit with deductions.
Why Are Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II Different?
A senior railway official explained that these trains follow a 100% confirmed berth policy, unlike conventional trains.“In Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II, passengers are either given confirmed berths or none at all. There is no concept of shared or partially confirmed berths,” the official said.
In contrast, in regular trains:
- Some passengers may travel on waiting or RAC tickets
- Families may share berths if not all tickets are confirmed
Cancellation Rules for Other Trains Remain Unchanged
For trains other than Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II, the existing cancellation structure continues:25% charge if cancelled 48 to 12 hours before departure
50% charge if cancelled 12 to 4 hours before departure
No refund if cancelled within 4 hours of departure
Amrit Bharat II Trains: What You Should Know
The Railways also clarified that:- All Amrit Bharat trains launched from January 2026 onwards will be known as Amrit Bharat II
- The new cancellation rules will automatically apply to these services
- A circular dated January 15, 2025, formally notified this change
- 1 pair of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains
- 9 pairs of Amrit Bharat II trains
have already been flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17 and 18, 2026.
Why Indian Railways Tightened the Rules
According to railway officials, the move aims to:- Reduce last-minute cancellations
- Improve berth utilisation
- Ensure fairness to waitlisted passengers
- Protect revenue on premium long-distance trains
What Passengers Should Keep in Mind
- Book only when travel plans are confirmed
- Avoid last-minute cancellations
- Check train type before cancelling
- Understand that Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II follow stricter norms
Inputs from PTI
