How to Cancel Train Tickets on IRCTC

Plans change. Meetings get rescheduled. Trips get postponed. When you need to cancel a train ticket booked on IRCTC, the process is simple — but the refund amount depends heavily on when you cancel. Here's the complete guide.

How to Cancel Online (IRCTC Website)

1. Log in to irctc.co.in
2. Go to "My Transactions" > "Booked Ticket History"
3. Find the ticket you want to cancel
4. Click "Cancel Ticket"
5. Select the passengers to cancel (you can cancel all or specific passengers)
6. Confirm the cancellation
7. The refund amount is shown before you confirm — review it
8. Click "OK" to finalize

The cancellation is processed immediately. Your refund is initiated based on the payment method used during booking.

How to Cancel on IRCTC App

1. Open IRCTC Rail Connect app
2. Go to Booked Tickets
3. Tap the ticket to cancel
4. Tap "Cancel Ticket"
5. Select passengers and confirm
6. Same refund rules apply

Cancellation Charges

The charge depends on when you cancel relative to the train's scheduled departure:

Confirmed Tickets

When You Cancel	Cancellation Charge
More than 48 hours before departure	Flat fee based on class
48 to 12 hours before departure	25% of fare
12 to 4 hours before departure	50% of fare
Less than 4 hours before departure	No cancellation online (file TDR)

Flat cancellation charges by class (for cancellations more than 48 hours before):

Class	Cancellation Charge
AC First (1A)	₹240
AC 2 Tier (2A)	₹200
AC 3 Tier (3A)	₹180
AC 3 Economy (3E)	₹180
AC Chair Car (CC)	₹180
Sleeper (SL)	₹120
Second Sitting (2S)	₹60

RAC Tickets

RAC tickets follow the same cancellation charges as confirmed tickets. Cancel before chart preparation for the lowest charge.

Waitlisted E-Tickets

Here's the good news: waitlisted e-tickets that don't confirm by chart preparation are auto-cancelled with minimal charges. The cancellation charge for WL e-tickets is only the flat fee (₹60-₹240 depending on class), regardless of when they're cancelled.

If you cancel a WL e-ticket yourself before chart preparation, the same flat fee applies. So there's no rush to cancel WL tickets — you can wait and see if they confirm.

Cancellation Deadlines

Before chart preparation: Best time to cancel. Lowest charges apply. After chart preparation but before departure: Higher charges (25% or 50% of fare depending on timing). After train departure: Online cancellation is NOT possible. You must file a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt) for a possible refund. No-show: If you don't board the train and don't cancel, there's no automatic refund. E-tickets are marked as "used" and counter tickets are forfeited.

Cancelling After Chart Preparation

Once the chart is prepared, online cancellation is still possible for confirmed and RAC tickets — but the charges increase:

• Confirmed/RAC tickets: 25% of fare if cancelled more than 12 hours before departure, 50% if between 12-4 hours
• Waitlisted e-tickets post chart: Auto-cancelled with flat fee refund

After 4 hours before departure, online cancellation closes. You can still cancel at the station counter up to 30 minutes before departure (confirmed tickets) or file a TDR.

Refund Timeline

Payment Method	Refund Timeline
UPI	5-7 working days
Debit Card	5-7 working days
Credit Card	7-10 working days
Net Banking	5-7 working days
IRCTC e-Wallet	Instant to 24 hours

The refund is credited to the same payment method used for booking. You can't request a refund to a different account.

Checking Refund Status

1. Go to IRCTC website > My Transactions > Cancel Ticket History
2. Find your cancelled ticket
3. The refund status shows as "Pending" or "Processed"
4. Once processed, check your bank account/card statement in 2-3 business days

Special Cancellation Scenarios

Tatkal tickets: Cannot be cancelled for refund (online). Exception: if the train is cancelled by Railways or your waitlisted Tatkal e-ticket doesn't confirm. Premium Tatkal: No cancellation refund under any circumstances (except train cancellation by Railways). Train cancelled by Railways: Full refund, no cancellation charges. Processed automatically for e-tickets. Train delayed by more than 3 hours: You're eligible for full refund. Cancel at the station counter or file TDR online. Natural disaster/accident: Full refund for affected trains.

Tips

Cancel early if you're sure you won't travel. The cancellation charges increase as departure approaches. A ₹120 flat charge on Sleeper is much better than 50% of a ₹1,200 fare. Don't cancel waitlisted tickets prematurely. Since WL e-ticket auto-cancellation charges are the same as manual cancellation charges, you might as well wait and see if the ticket confirms. If it does, travel. If not, you get the auto-refund. Keep the cancellation receipt. IRCTC shows a cancellation confirmation with the refund amount. Screenshot it for your records. Check if your ticket has travel insurance. The ₹0.49 insurance covers some cancellation scenarios. Check the policy terms if you opted for insurance during booking.

For checking your cancellation status, refund tracking, or booking alternatives, indianrail.app provides a clean interface alongside IRCTC for managing your travel plans.