Every second, a railway passenger loses chance to travel as waitlisted tickets get auto-cancelled: RTI

Bhopal: Every second, more than one railway passenger in India loses the chance to travel as waitlisted tickets get auto-cancelled due to non-confirmation of seats, exposing the mounting pressure on the country’s rail network. RTI replies received by Neemuch-based activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur from the Railways reveal that 3.39 crore passengers could not travel in 2025–26 after their tickets remained unconfirmed and were automatically cancelled at the time of chart preparation.

Data shows a steady rise in passenger distress over the past three financial years. In 2023–24, around 2.96 crore passengers were unable to travel, rising to 3.27 crore in 2024–25, and further to 3.39 crore in 2025–26, indicating a consistent upward trend.

Broken down further, the latest figures mean nearly 9.3 lakh passengers lose confirmed travel opportunities every day, translating to around 64 passengers every minute and more than one passenger every second. Sleeper class bore the highest burden with 1.68 crore affected passengers, followed by 3AC with 74.55 lakh, along with significant numbers in 2S and 2AC categories.

Gaur said the figures reflect an acute shortage of trains on high-density routes, adding that confirmed tickets are becoming a matter of luck rather than a reliable service. He said that even tickets booked well in advance often remain unconfirmed, causing emotional stress.

Transport experts say the trend highlights a widening gap between demand and rail capacity, especially during festivals and peak travel seasons, raising concerns over whether infrastructure growth is keeping pace with rising passenger demand.
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