Indian Railways RAC Ticket News (November 13, 2026): Indian Railways is reportedly examining the possibility of discontinuing its decades-old RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) ticket facility. The move could bring significant changes to the railway reservation system, particularly for passengers who currently have to share a single side-lower berth despite paying the full ticket fare.
Under the existing RAC system, two passengers can be allotted one side-lower berth. Although both passengers pay the full ticket fare, neither is initially guaranteed an exclusive sleeping berth. This arrangement has raised questions about passenger comfort and whether charging the full fare for shared accommodation is fair.
The Railway Ministry is reportedly reviewing the existing arrangement following concerns raised by passengers and a recommendation from a parliamentary committee.
However, Indian Railways has not officially announced the cancellation of the RAC facility. The proposal is still under consideration, and existing RAC rules continue to apply.
In this article, Your Railway Guide explains why Indian Railways may scrap the RAC facility, how the current system works, what alternatives are being discussed and what passengers should know.
Is Indian Railways Going to Scrap the RAC Ticket Facility?
According to reports published on November 13, 2026, the Railway Ministry is examining whether the existing RAC ticket facility should be discontinued.
The main concern is that RAC passengers pay the full ticket fare but may receive only shared seating and sleeping accommodation instead of an individual berth.
According to a report by The Times of India, a railway official indicated that charging the full fare when a passenger does not receive full sleeping space may not be appropriate.
The issue has also attracted attention because of complaints about passenger comfort and difficulties faced by railway staff when two passengers have to share a single berth.
At present, there is no confirmed implementation date or official notification announcing the end of RAC tickets.
Why Is Indian Railways Reviewing the RAC Ticket System?
There are several reasons why the existing RAC arrangement is being reconsidered.
1. Passengers Pay Full Fare for a Shared Berth
One of the biggest concerns is the fare charged to RAC passengers.
Under the existing system, two RAC passengers generally share one side-lower berth. Both passengers pay the full applicable ticket fare, even though neither initially receives an exclusive sleeping berth.
This has raised questions about whether the fare structure provides fair value to passengers.
2. Passenger Comfort and Sleeping Space
Sharing a single berth can be uncomfortable, especially during overnight journeys.
Passengers may have limited space to sit, rest and sleep. The situation can become more difficult on long-distance trains where passengers spend several hours travelling.
An individual confirmed berth offers more privacy and comfort than shared accommodation.
3. Problems Faced by TTEs
Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) may also face difficulties when RAC passengers request separate berths.
If a passenger cancels a confirmed ticket, the vacant berth can be allotted to an RAC passenger according to reservation priority.
However, when no berth becomes available, the TTE may not have an alternative arrangement to offer.
This can become particularly sensitive when passengers of different genders are allotted the same shared berth.
4. Changing Railway Reservation Systems
The RAC system was introduced when railway reservations were largely managed manually.
At that time, it helped Indian Railways accommodate more passengers by making use of berths that could become vacant due to cancellations or passengers not turning up.
With computerised reservation systems, the Railways can now track cancellations and berth availability more efficiently.
This has also led to questions about whether the traditional RAC arrangement needs to be continued in its existing form.
What Is RAC in Indian Railways?
RAC stands for Reservation Against Cancellation.
It is a special ticket status in Indian Railways that allows passengers to travel in reserved coaches even when they have not received a confirmed full berth.
RAC is better than a waitlisted ticket because an RAC passenger is permitted to board and travel on the train.
However, an RAC ticket does not guarantee an individual full sleeping berth.
Under the existing arrangement, two RAC passengers are generally allotted one side-lower berth, which is used as seating accommodation during the day and shared for sleeping at night.
If a confirmed passenger cancels their ticket and a berth becomes available, an RAC passenger may receive an upgrade to a full berth.
How Does the RAC Ticket Facility Work?
The current RAC system works through the railway reservation and berth-allocation process.
Here is how it generally works:
- A passenger books a train ticket when confirmed berths are unavailable.
- The passenger receives RAC status instead of a waitlisted status.
- The RAC passenger is permitted to board the train.
- Two RAC passengers are generally allotted one side-lower berth.
- If a confirmed passenger cancels their reservation, a vacant berth may be allotted to an RAC passenger.
- If no berth becomes available, the passenger continues with RAC accommodation.
For example, suppose two passengers receive RAC accommodation in a sleeper coach.
Both passengers are allotted the same side-lower berth number. They can travel on the train, but they do not initially receive separate full sleeping berths.
If another passenger cancels a confirmed reservation, one of the RAC passengers may get upgraded to a full berth.
What Did the Parliamentary Committee Recommend About RAC Tickets?
The issue of RAC fares was also raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
In February 2026, the committee examined the practice of charging full fares to RAC passengers who continue to remain in the RAC category after chart preparation without receiving a full berth.
In its report titled Punctuality and Travel Time in Train Operations in Indian Railways, tabled in Parliament on February 4, 2026, the committee stated that charging full fare in such circumstances was not justified.
The committee recommended that the Ministry of Railways develop a mechanism to provide a partial fare refund to passengers who pay the full fare but do not receive a full berth.
This recommendation brought further attention to the existing RAC arrangement and the need to reconsider how passengers are charged.
However, a parliamentary committee recommendation is not the same as an implemented railway rule. The Ministry must take further action before any new refund arrangement becomes applicable.
What Changes Could Indian Railways Introduce Instead of RAC?
If Indian Railways decides to discontinue or modify the existing RAC system, several alternatives could be considered.
Some possibilities reported in the media include:
1. Providing a Full Berth to Every Passenger
One possible arrangement is to provide an individual full berth to every passenger instead of allotting one berth to two RAC passengers.
This could improve passenger comfort and eliminate the need to share sleeping space.
However, this would require changes to the way railway accommodation is allocated and could reduce the number of passengers accommodated in existing coaches.
2. Introducing Lower Fares for Shared Accommodation
Another possibility is to charge a reduced fare when passengers receive shared accommodation instead of an individual berth.
This could address the concern that RAC passengers currently pay the full ticket fare despite receiving limited sleeping space.
A revised fare structure could make the system more transparent and fair.
3. Introducing a Different Berth Upgrade System
Indian Railways could also examine an alternative reservation system that allocates available berths more efficiently.
Such a system could give priority to passengers who have not received confirmed accommodation while reducing the need for traditional RAC sharing.
These are reported possibilities and should not be treated as officially approved changes.
Will RAC Tickets Be Discontinued Immediately?
No. Passengers should not assume that the RAC facility has already been discontinued.
As of November 13, 2026:
- No final official decision to scrap RAC has been announced.
- Existing RAC ticket rules continue to apply.
- RAC passengers can travel according to the applicable reservation rules.
- The possibility of changing the existing system is reportedly under examination.
Passengers should continue checking their ticket status and follow the current Indian Railways reservation rules until an official notification announces any changes.
What Should Passengers Do If They Have an RAC Ticket?
Passengers holding RAC tickets do not need to panic because of the latest news.
The reported review does not automatically cancel existing RAC tickets or change their travel permissions.
Here are some important points to remember:
- An RAC ticket currently permits travel in the applicable reserved class.
- An RAC ticket does not guarantee an individual full berth.
- A full berth may become available if another passenger cancels their reservation.
- Check your PNR status before the journey.
- Follow the accommodation details shown in your final reservation chart.
- Do not cancel your ticket based only on reports about the possible discontinuation of RAC.
For the latest official railway information, passengers should follow announcements from Indian Railways and IRCTC.
Conclusion
The possibility of discontinuing the RAC ticket facility could bring an important change to the Indian Railways reservation system.
The current arrangement allows passengers to travel even when confirmed berths are unavailable, but sharing a single berth while paying the full fare has raised concerns about passenger comfort and fairness.
The Public Accounts Committee has already recommended a partial refund mechanism for RAC passengers who do not receive a full berth. Now, reports suggest that the Railway Ministry is examining whether the traditional RAC arrangement should continue.
However, no final decision has been announced yet.
Passengers should continue following existing RAC rules until Indian Railways officially announces any changes.
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