Missed Your Train? Can You Still Cancel Your Ticket and Get a Refund?
Many railway passengers often face the unfortunate situation of missing their train due to unexpected delays. If you’ve booked a ticket through the IRCTC app or a railway counter, you might be wondering whether you can cancel your ticket and how much of your money will be refunded.
In this article, we will explain whether you can cancel your ticket after missing the train, the process of filing a refund request (TDR), and how much money you can expect to receive back.
Can You Cancel a Ticket After Missing the Train?
Once the train has departed, you cannot cancel your ticket—whether it was booked online or offline. However, Indian Railways provides an alternative process known as TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt), which allows passengers to apply for a refund under specific conditions.
Time Limit for Filing TDR
Passengers must file a TDR request within 72 hours of the train’s scheduled departure time. If this deadline is missed, no refund request will be entertained.
- Online TDR Filing: Can be done through the IRCTC website or mobile app.
- Offline TDR Filing: Requires visiting the nearest railway reservation center.
Step-by-Step Guide to Filing TDR Online
- Log in to your IRCTC account using the website or mobile app.
- Navigate to "My Transactions" and select "Booked Ticket History".
- Choose the ticket for which you want to file a TDR request.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and submit your request.
Once submitted, you can track the status of your refund request on the IRCTC portal.
How Much Refund Will You Get?
The refund amount is not guaranteed and depends on Indian Railways’ cancellation policy. If your refund is approved, the amount will be credited to the same account from which the ticket was booked within 60 days.
For counter-booked tickets, passengers must visit the nearest railway reservation center to collect their refund after the TDR request has been processed.
