Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Indian Railways Tightens Vande Bharat Sleeper Ticket Rules as Overnight Service Launches

The premium sleeper debuts with airline-style positioning under stricter fare and reservation terms than conventional long-distance trains.

Overview

  • Railway Board rules set a 25% deduction on refunds for cancellations made more than 72 hours before departure.
  • Cancelling between 72 hours and eight hours before departure incurs a 50% charge, with no refund permitted in the final eight hours.
  • Passengers forfeit the entire fare if a ticket is not cancelled or a Ticket Deposit Receipt is not filed online at least eight hours before departure.
  • Fares carry a 400 km minimum with no Reservation Against Cancellation, and only ladies, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and duty pass quotas apply.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the HowrahKamakhya sleeper, which railways say will cut travel time by about two and a half hours and target airline-style overnight travel.