Vande Bharat Sleeper Tickets: Stricter Cancellation Rules Mean Higher Costs for Last-Minute Changes

Passengers planning to travel on India’s newly introduced Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will face significantly steeper penalties for cancelling confirmed tickets compared to other services, as per updated regulations issued by Indian Railways.

Under the new guidelines, cancelling a confirmed ticket on these premium trains will result in a 25% deduction from the fare regardless of when the cancellation occurs after booking, provided it is more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure. If the cancellation happens between 72 hours and eight hours prior to departure, the deduction rises to 50% of the fare. No refund will be provided for cancellations made less than eight hours before the train is due to leave.

These stricter provisions stem from the Railways’ decision to prepare reservation charts eight hours in advance of departure, rather than the previous four-hour window. This change aims to better manage seat allocation on the high-demand Vande Bharat Sleeper services.

In contrast, standard trains—including existing Vande Bharat chair-car variants—follow more lenient rules. For most trains, cancellations more than 48 hours before departure incur only flat charges (such as Rs 240 for AC First Class, Rs 200 for AC 2-Tier, Rs 180 for AC 3-Tier, Rs 120 for Sleeper, and Rs 60 for Second Class per passenger). Between 48 hours and 12 hours prior, a 25% fare deduction applies (subject to the minimum flat rate), while cancellations between 12 hours and four hours before departure attract a 50% deduction. No refund is available for confirmed tickets not cancelled or for which a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) is not filed online at least four hours before departure.

Railway officials noted that Vande Bharat Sleeper trains issue only confirmed tickets, with no provision for reservations against cancellation (RAC) or waiting lists. This policy, combined with the adjusted chart preparation timing, justifies the tougher cancellation framework.

ALSO READ : First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train To Run On Guwahati-Kolkata Route

Additionally, the Railway Board has set a minimum chargeable distance of 400 km for these trains. Quotas remain limited to women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and duty pass holders, with no other special reservations applicable.

These measures reflect the premium positioning of Vande Bharat Sleeper services, designed for faster and more comfortable overnight journeys, but they underscore the need for passengers to plan carefully to avoid substantial financial losses on cancellations.