Important Update for Railway Passengers

Indian Railways is reportedly considering whether to discontinue the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) system, according to media reports. Under the existing arrangement, two passengers are allotted a single side-lower berth while both are charged the full ticket fare. This has raised questions about the fairness of collecting the complete fare from passengers who receive only a shared berth. The reported review could lead to changes in the railway reservation system.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had earlier raised concerns over the full fare charged for RAC tickets. In a report presented in Parliament in February 2026, the committee recommended considering a partial refund for passengers who remain on the RAC status even after chart preparation and do not receive a full berth. The RAC system was originally introduced to make better use of berths left vacant after cancellations. However, sharing a berth can cause discomfort, particularly during overnight journeys. The Railways is reportedly examining whether to continue the existing system or introduce alternative arrangements.