Railways Sets Eight-Hour No-Refund Cutoff for Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat II

Overview

• A January 16 Railway Ministry notification amended the 2015 refund rules to create a separate regime for these two categories.
• Cancelling more than 72 hours before departure now forfeits 25% of the fare for these trains.
• Cancellations made between 72 hours and up to eight hours before departure incur a 50% charge, rising to 100% within eight hours.
• Refund terms for other trains remain unchanged, including a four-hour no-refund cutoff and different 25% and 50% windows.
• The rules apply to the pair of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains and nine pairs of Amrit Bharat II launched on January 17–18, and to future services classified as Amrit Bharat II.