Will your waitlisted ticket get an automatic upgrade on Indian Railways?
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According to a circular by Railway Board dated 13th May 2025, your waitlisted ticket may be automatically upgraded. The circular states that if there is no seat available in the class you booked but there is a seat available in a class higher, your ticket will be upgraded to that class. However, this upgrade is limited to maximum of two levels.This rule has been in existence since 2006 where it is stated that you maybe upgraded to higher class without any additional charge. The railway circular this time has defined path of upgrade and provide a structured path for the same.In sleeping accommodation it starts at 2S then 3E, 3A, 2A and 1A. There is one exception to this rule that is only a 2A ticket holder is eligible to be upgraded to 1A.In sitting accommodation it starts at 2S then VS, CC, EC, EV and EA. Just like sleeping accommodation in sitting only a CC ticket holder will be upgraded to EC,EV and EA.Only passengers that pay the full fare will be eligible for this scheme and the upgradation will happen separately and within the sitting and sleeping classes.Lower berth passengers and senior citizen passengers are also eligible for upgradation but a warning sign will inform that there is surety that they will get a lower berth after upgradation.The Centre for Railway Information System has been directed to upgrade the software to reflect the new rules.Railway's at the start of May 2025 had brought out a new rule which disallows people with waitlisted ticket from boarding reserved coaches. This decision has been taken to stop overcrowding and a provide a better travel experience for to people with confirmed tickets. However, people can board the General Coaches with the waitlisted tickets. If someone is found breaking the rules then they would be penalised. They will charged Rs 250 for Non-AC and Rs 440 for AC in addition to that the fare from their boarding station to the next station were they will be deboarded from the train.If a ticket had been booked for four people under a single PNR and after chart preparation only two tickets are confirmed. In that case those two people with the unconfirmed tickets can share the berth with those two people with the confirmed ticket.Railways have reduced the Advance Reservation Period by half to 60 days from the the earlier 120 days. IRCTC has made OTP (One Time Password) verification compulsory for all online ticket bookings.(With inputs from TOI)
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