Why pay full fare for half a berth? Railways rethinks RAC rules

The Indian Railways is reviewing its long-standing Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) system, which allows passengers to travel even when a full berth is not available. The review could lead to changes in how RAC tickets are handled, including the possibility of discontinuing or redesigning the arrangement, according to a report by The Times of India.

Under the existing system, RAC passengers are permitted to board the train but may have to share a berth with another passenger if no vacant berth becomes available. This means that travellers pay the full ticket fare without necessarily getting an individual sleeping space.

The arrangement has often left passengers uncertain about whether they will get a full berth before or during their journey. The railway administration is now examining whether the existing system remains appropriate, particularly for passengers undertaking long-distance overnight journeys.

Why Indian Railways is reviewing the RAC system

A railway official told The Times of India that there is a view within the department that charging passengers the full fare when they do not receive a full sleeping berth may not be justified.

The system can also pose practical difficulties for passengers and ticket examiners. When no vacant berth is available, two unrelated travellers may have to share sleeping accommodation, creating challenges during the journey, the official said.

The review comes amid questions over whether RAC passengers should continue paying the same fare as those who receive confirmed berths.

Parliament flags concern over full RAC fare

The issue was also raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in February 2026. In its report on Punctuality and Travel Time in Train Operations in Indian Railways, the committee questioned the practice of charging full fares to passengers who remain in the RAC category even after chart preparation.

The committee observed that "charging a full fare for tickets under RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation), where the ticket holder continues in the RAC category after chart preparation without a berth facility, is not justified."

It also recommended that the railway ministry "should devise a mechanism to refund partial fare to the customer/traveller who could not get a full berth but had to pay full charges at the time of boarding."

The railway review could determine whether the current arrangement is retained or replaced with a revised system.