Have you booked a train ticket in advance but can no longer travel? Indian Railways offers a facility that allows you to transfer your ticket to someone else, saving you from cancellation charges. Let’s detail how to transfer a reserved ticket to another person.
Often, we book tickets weeks or even months in advance for our train journeys. However, unexpected situations can arise, making it impossible for the person who made the reservation to travel.
In such cases, individuals typically have to cancel their tickets, which results in cancellation charges, with only a portion of the fare being refunded.
Fortunately, now you can transfer your ticket to someone else, ensuring that you and your loved ones can benefit from the reservation.
The facility to transfer tickets is available for those unable to travel, but it is important to note that the ticket can only be exchanged for a family member.
This includes parents, siblings, children, and spouses. Transferring the ticket to anyone outside your family is not permitted.
How to Transfer the Ticket
Regardless of whether you booked the ticket online or at a counter, it would help if you visited the reservation counter to apply for the ticket transfer.
This must be done at least 24 hours before the train’s departure. The travel person must carry a printout of the ticket and a photocopy of their ID proof.
You must fill out an application form at the counter and provide the necessary passenger details. If the railway staff verifies the information and finds it accurate, they will strike out the old passenger’s name on the ticket and enter the new passenger’s name.
Changing the Boarding Station
If you cannot board the train at the station where you originally planned to travel, there is no need to cancel the ticket. You can adjust your boarding station. This is applicable even if you transfer the ticket to someone else.
To do this:
- Log in to the IRCTC website and select the ‘Boarding Point Change’ option from the Transaction Type menu.
- Enter your PNR number, train number, and the captcha shown.
- Check the box confirming the conditions and click ‘Submit.’
- An OTP will be sent to the mobile number you provided during booking.
- Enter the OTP, select the new boarding station, and click ‘Submit.’
Please note that changes to the boarding station are not allowed for tickets booked offline.