Train cancelled, diverted or late: refunds and how to file a TDR

What to do when the railway cancels, diverts or delays your train: when a refund is automatic, which TDR reason to choose and how long you have.

Last checked: 26 October 2026. Railway rules change, so confirm on IRCTC before you book or cancel.

A TDR (ticket deposit receipt) is the request you file with IRCTC to claim a refund when you did not travel for a reason covered by the rules. This guide follows IRCTC's published refund rules, which are dated 12 November 2015 on IRCTC's site. Check IRCTC for any newer version.

If the railway cancels your train

For an e-ticket, IRCTC's rules say online cancellation or filing of a TDR is not required. The refund goes to the account you paid from. For a ticket bought at a counter, the rules say it can be cancelled at a computerised reservation counter up to 72 hours after the scheduled departure of the train.

If your train is more than three hours late

If the train runs more than three hours late from its starting station and you decide not to travel, no cancellation charge applies and the full fare is refunded. For an e-ticket the TDR must be filed online before the actual departure of the train. After the train has departed, the rules say no refund is admissible.

If your train is diverted

IRCTC lists three diversion reasons in the TDR form: "Train Diverted And Passenger Not Travelled", "Train Diverted And Train Not Touching Boarding Station" and "Train Diverted And Train Not Touching Destination Station". For the two "not touching" reasons, the TDR can be filed up to 72 hours after the scheduled departure of the train from your boarding station.

Other TDR reasons and their time limits

Train terminated short of destination: up to 72 hours after the scheduled arrival at your destination. The original certificate from the ticket checking staff is sent to IRCTC by post.
AC failure: within 20 hours of the actual arrival at your destination, with the original certificate posted to IRCTC.
Travelled in a lower class than booked: for an e-ticket, the fare difference is refunded automatically when a lower class is given at the first chart. After the first chart, the TDR must be filed within two days of the date the certificate is issued.
Missed a connecting train because the first train ran late: within 3 hours of the actual arrival of the train you travelled by.

If the IRCTC site will not accept your TDR

IRCTC's notice says to send an email from your registered email ID to etickets@irctc.co.in. Include your PNR and the reason.

Good to know. Some of these cases need a certificate from the ticket checking staff, sent to IRCTC by post. The refund is processed only after IRCTC receives it.

Also see what happens to a waitlisted e-ticket after the chart.

Sources

Check your ticket in the app

ClearBerth shows your PNR status with a berth diagram, tracks your train live and alerts you when your waitlist moves. Tickets are booked on IRCTC, not in ClearBerth.