Indian Railways Explains Why RAC Ticket Holders Pay the Full Fare Despite Sharing a Berth
Indian Railways clarified that RAC passengers pay full ticket fare because they remain eligible for a complete berth whenever confirmed passengers cancel fail to board or vacate seats.
Indian Railways Explains RAC Fare Policy
Many train passengers have often wondered why they are required to pay the full ticket price even when traveling on a Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) ticket, which usually allows only a shared berth. The Railway Ministry has now provided a clear explanation, putting an end to the long standing confusion.
An RAC ticket gives passengers the assurance of travel, but instead of a full berth, they initially receive seating space by sharing a berth with another RAC traveler. This system applies to both Sleeper and AC classes, where passengers can board the train and continue their journey even if a confirmed berth is not immediately available.
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the reason passengers are charged the full fare is that an RAC ticket holder always has the possibility of receiving a complete berth during the journey. If a passenger with a confirmed reservation cancels the ticket, does not board the train, or vacates the berth after the journey begins, that berth can be allotted to an RAC passenger.
The clarification came in response to questions raised by Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. The minister stated that RAC travelers have the same right to travel in the reserved coach and remain eligible for berth upgrades whenever vacancies arise during the trip.
Indian Railways also noted that passengers who are not comfortable traveling on an RAC ticket can cancel their reservation and claim a refund according to the applicable cancellation rules. This gives travelers the flexibility to choose whether they wish to continue with the booking.
With a growing number of people booking train tickets online in advance, RAC reservations continue to play an important role in accommodating passengers during periods of high demand. Railway data indicates that a large majority of travelers now reserve their tickets online before their journey.
To manage increasing passenger traffic, Indian Railways has also been adding additional coaches to several trains, helping improve seat availability and reduce waiting lists during peak travel seasons.
