This initiative aims to curb the misuse of digital tickets and enhance the ticket verification process during journeys.
According to the updated rules, passengers are required to carry the same registered mobile phone used to book the ticket. Railway officials emphasized that the original ticket must be readily available in the Rail One app on that device for the entire journey.
What has changed?
Under the new guidelines, travelers using digital unreserved tickets must present the original ticket in the Rail One app when requested by ticket-checking personnel.
The Railways has clarified that the following will be deemed unacceptable during inspections:
- Screenshots of tickets
- Photographs of tickets
- PDF copies
- Tickets shared via WhatsApp or any other messaging apps
Officials mentioned that tickets must be available on the registered mobile number and device used for booking.
Ticket must be booked before departure
Indian Railways has also reiterated that digital unreserved tickets should be bought before the departure of the train from the boarding station.
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Any ticket issued after the train has left the station will be considered invalid, even if it’s accessible in the Rail One app.
Railway Issues Advisory For Passengers
To prevent inconvenience, Indian Railways has recommended that passengers:
- Carry the mobile phone used to book the ticket.
- Ensure the phone is sufficiently charged for the journey.
- Keep the ticket easily accessible in the Rail One app.
- Double-check journey details, including station name and travel date, before boarding.
- Avoid depending on screenshots or forwarded ticket versions.
Railway officials cautioned that failing to present the original digital ticket during inspection or offering incorrect ticket details may lead to penalties.
Rules apply only to unreserved digital tickets
The Railways clarified that these updated guidelines pertain solely to digital unreserved tickets booked via the Rail One app.
The rules do not apply to reserved tickets, for which identity verification is conducted using government-issued ID during ticket checks.
Passenger fined over WhatsApp screenshot
The new guidelines were introduced following a recent incident on Train No. 18517 Korba–Visakhapatnam Link Express, where a woman traveling from Korba to Raipur was penalized after showing a WhatsApp screenshot of her ticket during an inspection.
Railway officials stated that the passenger informed the traveling ticket examiner (TTE) that her brother purchased the ticket using the Rail One app and shared a screenshot via WhatsApp.
During the verification process, the TTE discovered that the ticket was created at 4:45 pm, while the train had already departed Korba station at 4:10 pm. Additionally, officials found that the ticket was not accessible on the passenger’s registered mobile number.
Since the screenshot was not considered valid proof of travel, the passenger was fined under railway regulations.
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