The 4-Hour Rule — Critical Deadline for E-Tickets
If you have an IRCTC e-ticket (booked online), the cancellation window closes exactly 4 hours before the train's scheduled departure from the origin (source) station. After that, you cannot cancel online and get no refund for confirmed tickets.
Note: This is the source station departure time, not your boarding station time. If a train departs Delhi at 6 PM and you board at Kanpur at midnight, the cancellation deadline is still 2 PM (4 hours before Delhi departure).
Refund by Cancellation Timing — E-Tickets
| When you cancel | Refund (confirmed ticket) | Refund (WL ticket) |
|---|---|---|
| 48+ hours before departure | Full minus flat charge (₹60–₹240) | Full minus flat charge |
| 12–48 hours before | Fare minus 25% | Full minus flat charge |
| 4–12 hours before | Fare minus 50% | Full minus flat charge |
| Less than 4 hours before | No refund (e-ticket) | Auto-cancelled at chart — full minus flat charge |
| After chart preparation | No refund | Auto-refund (WL auto-cancelled) |
What to Do If You Missed the Cancellation Window
If you have a confirmed e-ticket and the 4-hour window has passed, you have very limited options:
- Train delayed 3+ hours: File a TDR online on IRCTC (My Transactions → File TDR) for full refund. Must be filed before or up to 3 hours after actual departure.
- Train cancelled by Railways: Full refund, cancel on IRCTC or file TDR within 72 hours.
- Medical emergency: File a TDR with supporting hospital documents. Refund is discretionary — railways review case by case. Takes 60–90 days.
- No valid reason: No refund. Nothing you can do for e-tickets.
Counter (Paper) Ticket — Different Rules
If you bought a ticket at the railway reservation counter (not online), the rules are slightly different:
- You can surrender the ticket at the reservation counter up to 30 minutes before departure and get a 50% refund (for first class / AC) or flat charge deduction (SL class).
- After the train departs, you can file a TDR at the station within 3 hours of actual departure with the ticket and reason.
- TDR refunds take 60–90 days and are subject to railway scrutiny.
The Most Common Mistake — Missing the Deadline
Many passengers assume the 4-hour window starts from their boarding station. It doesn't — it's calculated from the origin/source station departure time. If you're an intermediate passenger, you may have less time than you think to cancel. Always check the train's source departure time before planning your cancellation.
Related: Full cancellation charges guide | How to file TDR on IRCTC