Big news for Railway Passengers. Every day, millions of people in India hop on trains to get around. Some choose reserved coaches, while others go for unreserved ones. For those opting for reserved coaches, you need to book your tickets in advance. These include options like third AC, second AC, first AC, AC chair car, sleeper, and second sitting. On the flip side, unreserved coaches have a general coach where you don’t have to worry about booking too far ahead. You can just buy a ticket when you arrive at the station and catch a train later.
A ton of passengers use general coaches daily, but there might be some changes coming for those traveling on general tickets. Recently, there was a tragic incident at New Delhi Railway Station where a stampede occurred, resulting in 18 fatalities. While the investigation is ongoing, there are reports that the Railways might alter the rules for general ticket travelers.
The Railway Ministry is considering updating the booking criteria for general tickets. This could mean that train names might need to be included on the general ticket, which isn’t the case right now. Currently, you can switch trains easily with a general ticket, but if the train name is added, you won’t have that flexibility anymore.
The validity of a general ticket is an important aspect that many travelers might overlook. It’s essential to remember that a general ticket issued by the railways has a specific time frame. If you don’t begin your journey within 3 hours of purchasing the ticket, it will no longer be valid. Consequently, you won’t be able to use that ticket for travel.