New Rules for Vande Bharat Sleeper, Amrit Bharat II: Late ticket cancellations could cost up to 100% fare

Railway Ticket Cancellation Rules Revised: Indian Railways has made major changes in the ticket cancellation rules of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express. Effective January 16, these Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Amendment Rules, 2026, include some specific updates that will directly impact passengers.

Refunds and Cancellation Charges

Under the new rules, if the passenger or his/her representative presents the confirmed ticket for cancellation, the fare will be refunded after deduction of cancellation charges in the following manner:

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• (a) If the ticket is presented for cancellation more than 72 hours (3 days) before the scheduled departure time of the train, the cancellation charges will be 25 per cent of the fare.
• (b) If the ticket is presented for cancellation between 72 hours to 8 hours before the scheduled departure time of the train, the cancellation charges will be 50 per cent of the fare.
• (c) No refund will be granted if the ticket is presented for cancellation less than 8 hours before the scheduled departure time of the train.

"Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, wherever cancellation charges have been mentioned, the cancellation charges mentioned in sub-rule (4) shall be applicable in the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express tickets," the official release said.

Important Guidelines for Vande Bharat Sleeper Tickets

Passengers who fail to cancel their Vande Bharat Sleeper tickets or file TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipts) online at least 8 hours before departure will not be eligible for any refund.

Extension of Cancellation Period

The government has amended Rule 11, extending the cancellation period from 48 hours to 72 hours in certain cases related to Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II Express. However, the 48-hour rule remains unchanged for other trains.

Rules for Amrit Bharat II Express

For Amrit Bharat II Express,

• Reserved Tickets: The same cancellation rules will apply for reserved tickets as for Vande Bharat Sleeper
• Unreserved Tickets: For unreserved tickets the old rules will continue to apply.
• Ticket Status: Importantly, the rules regarding ticket status—whether it's confirmed or waitlisted—remain unchanged.

Other Provisions

According to the official release, except as otherwise provided in the above rules, other provisions will be applicable for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express. These provisions of rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 will apply depending on the status of the ticket, whether it is confirmed or waitlisted.

For Amrit Bharat II Express

• Same rules will apply for reserved tickets in Amrit Bharat II Express as for reserved tickets in Vande Bharat Sleeper Express
• Unreserved tickets of Amrit Bharat II Express will continue to be valid under old Rule 5, which is also applicable to unreserved tickets of other trains.

In short:

• Reserved tickets = new Vande Bharat rules;
• unreserved tickets = old rules remain.

FAQs

Q1. Is there any change in the rules for cancellation of Vande Bharat tickets?
Yes, Indian Railways has changed the rules for cancellation of tickets of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express.

Q2. How much refund will I get if I cancel my Vande Bharat sleeper ticket 72 hours before departure?
If you cancel the ticket 72 hours (3 days) before departure, the cancellation fee will be 25 per cent of the fare, which means you will get a 75 per cent refund.

Q3. Do these new cancellation rules apply to all trains?
No. The new rules apply primarily to the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express. Other trains will continue to operate according to the previous rules.

Q4. What happens if I cancel my ticket less than 8 hours before departure?
Well, in that case you will not get any refund.