Question 1

How is the train ticket cancellation refund calculated?

Accepted Answer

Refunds depend on your ticket status (Confirmed, RAC, or Waitlisted), travel class, and how many hours before scheduled departure you cancel. Confirmed tickets cancelled >48h before departure only incur a flat fee (₹60–₹240 + 5% GST on AC). Cancellations between 12–48h deduct 25%, while 4–12h deduct 50%. Inside 4 hours or after chart preparation, no refund is granted on confirmed tickets.

Question 2

Can I get a refund on a confirmed Tatkal ticket?

Accepted Answer

No. Confirmed Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets carry 0% refund upon cancellation. If your Tatkal ticket is on RAC or Waitlist, you can cancel up to 30 minutes before departure and receive fare minus ₹60 clerkage. Full refunds for confirmed Tatkal are only granted if the train is cancelled by Railways or delayed by more than 3 hours.

Question 3

What happens if my waitlisted e-ticket does not confirm?

Accepted Answer

If all passengers on your IRCTC e-ticket remain waitlisted after chart preparation, IRCTC automatically cancels the ticket and credits the full fare minus ₹60 clerkage per passenger to your original payment source within 3–7 working days. No manual cancellation is required.

Question 4

What is clerkage charge in Indian Railways?

Accepted Answer

Clerkage is a flat ₹60 per passenger administrative fee deducted when an RAC or Waitlisted ticket is cancelled at least 30 minutes before scheduled departure. On AC classes and First Class, 5% GST applies (₹63/passenger total). Sleeper and 2S classes are exempt from GST.

Question 5

Does GST apply to railway cancellation fees?

Accepted Answer

Yes — 5% GST is levied on the cancellation or clerkage fee for AC classes (1AC, 2AC, 3AC, 3E, CC, EC) and First Class (FC). Non-AC Sleeper (SL) and Second Sitting (2S) are completely exempt.

Question 6

Are IRCTC convenience fee and payment gateway charges refunded?

Accepted Answer

No. The IRCTC convenience fee (₹15–₹30 + GST) and bank payment gateway charges are non-refundable under all circumstances, even if the train is cancelled by Railways.

Question 7

What if Indian Railways cancels my train or it runs over 3 hours late?

Accepted Answer

100% full refund is automatically processed for e-tickets if Railways cancels the train. If the train runs more than 3 hours late and you choose not to travel, file a TDR online before the train departs to claim a full refund.