Introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat Express with rationalised refund provision

Introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat Express with rationalised refund provision: Railway Board Order dated 19.01.2026

भारत सरकार GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
रेल मंत्रालय MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
रेलवे बोर्ड RAILWAY BOARD
*****

(Commercial Circular No. 08 of 2026)

No.TC-II/2003/2025/Refund rule (Part 3)

New Delhi, dated 19.01.2026

The General Managers,
All Zonal Railways.

Sub: Introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat Express with rationalised refund provision-reg.

Ref:- (i) Board’s letter of even number dated 15.01.2026.
(ii) Commercial Circular 65 of 2015.

1. In continuation of letter under reference (i) for advance intimation on the above subject, rationalised refund rule for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express to be implemented w.e.f 16.01.2026, has been published vide G.S.R. 41(E) dated 16.01.2026. A copy of notification both in English and Hindi version is enclosed herewith. The same is also available on the website of Department of Publication, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under link https://egazette.gov.in. Further, copy of the circular has also been uploaded under the head Commercial Circular on Indian Railway website https://indianrailways.gov.in.
2. Apart from above, interim instructions issued like CC no. 06 of 2019 and СС 18 of 2023 and other such instructions issued from time to time shall also be applicable for these trains.
3. Wide publicity should be given through media at regular intervals and the same may also be displayed prominently at all stations at booking/reservation counters. Action should also be taken to make changes in Passenger Information Systems at all places including Enquiry office, website of zonal railways etc.
4. In case of any disparity in English and Hindi version, the English version shall prevail.

Encl. DA as above.

(Praveen Kumar)
Director Passenger Marketing (Co-ordination)
Railway Board

MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(Railway Board)
NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 16th January, 2026

G.S.R. 41(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 60 of the Railways Act, 1989 (24 of 1989), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, further to amend the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015, namely:–

1. (1) These rules may be called the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Amendment Rules, 2026.

(2) They shall come into force with effect from 16th day of January, 2026.

2. In the Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Ticket and Refund of Fare) Rules, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 6, after sub-rule (3), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely: –

“(4) In the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, if a confirmed ticket is presented by the passenger or his representative for cancellation, the refund of fare shall be made after deducting cancellation charges from the fare as follows:–

(a) if the ticket is presented for cancellation more than seventy-two hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be twenty five per cent. of the fare.

(b) if the ticket is presented for cancellation between seventy-two hours and upto eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be fifty per cent. of the fare.

(c) if the ticket is presented for cancellation in less than eight hours of the scheduled departure of the train, no refund shall be granted.

(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, wherever cancellation charges have been mentioned, the cancellation charges mentioned in sub-rule (4) shall be applicable in the case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express tickets.”.

3. In the said rules, in rule 8, after sub-rule (7), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: –

“Provided that in case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, no refund of fare shall be admissible on the tickets in case the ticket is not cancelled or TDR not filed online upto eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train.”.

4. In the said rules, in rule 11, –

(a) in sub-rule (1), in clause (i), for the words “forty-eight hours”, the words “seventy-two hours in case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express or forty-eight hours in case of other trains, as the case may be” shall be substituted.

(b) in sub-rule (2), in clause (i), for the words “forty-eight hours”, the words “seventy-two hours in case of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express and Amrit Bharat II Express or forty-eight hours in case of other trains, as the case may be” shall be substituted.

5. In the said rules, after rule 23, the following rules shall be inserted, namely:–

“24. Application of other provisions for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express. – Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the provisions of rules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and rule 23 shall be applicable as per status of the ticket whether confirmed ticket or wait-listed ticket, as the case may be.

25. Provisions for Amrit Bharat II Express. – The reserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the rules as are applicable to the reserved ticket of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express:

Provided that the unreserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the provisions of rule 5 of these rules.”.

[F. No. TC-II/2003/2025/Refund rule (Part 3)]
SHIVENDRA SHUKLA, Executive Director (Passenger Marketing)

Note: – The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide notification number G.S.R. 836(E) dated the 4th November, 2015.