Vande Bharat sleeper tickets: 25-50% deduction on early cancellations, no refund within 8 hours

The Railways has also ruled out the provision of Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) on Vande Bharat sleeper trains.

• Confirmed Vande Bharat sleeper tickets cancelled within 8 hours get no refund
• 25 percent fare deducted if cancelled over 72 hours before departure
• PM Modi flagged off first Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Guwahati

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Ahead of the start of commercial operations of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains, Indian Railways has notified stricter cancellation and refund rules for the premium overnight service, including a complete forfeiture of fare if a confirmed ticket is cancelled within eight hours of departure.

According to a Railway Board notification issued on Friday, passengers cancelling a confirmed Vande Bharat sleeper ticket more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure will get a refund after a 25% deduction. If the cancellation is made between 72 hours and up to eight hours before departure, 50% of the fare will be deducted.

“No refund of fare shall be admissible if a confirmed ticket is cancelled less than eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train,” the notification said. It also clarified that passengers will not be eligible for any refund if the ticket is not cancelled or if a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) is not filed online at least eight hours before departure.

The Railways has also ruled out the provision of Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) on Vande Bharat sleeper trains. The minimum chargeable distance for the service has been fixed at 400 km.

Only limited reservation categories will apply to the new trains. “There shall be only ladies quota, quota for persons with disabilities, senior citizen quota, and duty pass, as per existing instructions. No other reservation shall be applicable,” the Railway Board said.

The stricter norms come as India rolls out its first Vande Bharat sleeper service, designed to offer faster and more comfortable overnight travel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the inaugural Vande Bharat sleeper train between Howrah and Kamakhya (Guwahati), marking the debut of a high-speed sleeper variant in the Vande Bharat fleet.

The fully air-conditioned train is expected to cut travel time on the Howrah–Guwahati route by around 2.5 hours and offer what officials describe as an airline-like travel experience at relatively economical fares.