Indian Railways Cancels All Trains, Except Specials Till 30 June

On Thursday, PTI reported that Indian Railways will cancel tickets on all trains booked for travel till 30 June except Special trains and Shramik trains. It also said that fares paid on these cancelled tickets will be refunded to passengers.

Shramik trains are part of a special railway service to take labourers stranded due to the lockdown to their home towns.

The Indian Railways had also started Special trains between Delhi and 15 cities starting 12 May, tickets for which are only being sold on IRCTC website.

On 13 May issued an order introducing the provision of waiting list tickets not only for its operational special trains but for more such trains "to be notified in due course".

While at present only confirmed bookings are allotted, the waitlist bookings will open on 15 May but only those with 'confirmed' status till the chart is prepared will be allowed to travel. The waitlisted tickets will be issued for travel dates starting 22 May. A full refund will be made for those who will not be allowed to board the train for having COVID-19 symptoms.

Neither Tatkal or Premium Tatkal Quota nor senior citizen quota will be available on the Special Trains. Reservation against Cancellation (RAC) tickets will also not be allowed.

The Railway department is also working on adding more special trains, a Times of India report said citing a railway official. However, no official announcement has been made yet.