One of the major problems passengers face with the Indian Railways is not getting tickets on time. RTI replies submitted by Neemuch-based activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur from the Railways show that around 3.39 crore passengers could not travel in FY 2025-26.
3.39 Crore Railway Passengers Could Not Travel
As per a report by NDTV, passengers’ waitlisted tickets remained unconfirmed and were automatically cancelled at the time of chart preparation. The submitted RTI-related report highlights class-wise auto-cancellation data, with the highest impact falling on Sleeper Class and 3AC passengers.
The report highlights the tickets done over the full financial year and shows that almost 92,877 passengers every day, with 3,870 passengers every hour, 64 passengers every minute, and more than one passenger every second, didn’t get a confirmed ticket and lost the chance to board the train.
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The data reveal that the distress level has been slowly rising. In 2021-22, around 1.65 crore passengers could not travel due to waitlisted tickets. This jumped to 2.72 crore in 2022-23, then 2.96 crore in 2023-24, 3.27 crore in 2024-25, and now 3.39 crore in 2025-26.
Which Category Faces The Highest Impact?
The greatest blow has fallen on the common traveller. Sleeper Class alone recorded 1.68 crore affected passengers, which is the highest among all categories. This is the class most closely linked to India’s working population, including migrant labourers, students, lower-income passengers, small families and those who cannot afford air travel.
The next biggest expense was in 3AC, where approx. 74.55 lakh passengers were affected. Major numbers were also noted in 2AC, indicating that the crisis is no longer confined to one class of travel. The waiting list has climbed in various categories. For travellers, an auto-cancelled ticket is not just a refund entry.
As per reports, Chandra Shekhar Gaur, an RTI activist, said the figures reveal the acute shortage of trains and confirmed berths on busy routes. He stated that even 78 years after Independence, getting a confirmed train ticket should not be about luck; it should be a basic facility. Instead of showing shining dreams 10 or 20 years later, the Indian Railways must take practical steps in the present so that this constantly getting-worse problem can be brought under some control.
Well, getting a confirmed ticket is still a major problem for most travellers whose travel depends on trains. What are your thoughts about this? Let us know in the comments.
Also Read: Indian Railways Gets Strict About Cleanliness, ₹500 Fine For Littering On Trains And Stations
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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What does waitlist on Indian railway mean?
The full form of WL is Waitlist in IRCTC. You will encounter this status when there are no seats or berths available for the desired trains.
Which waitlist is cleared first?
General Waiting List (GNWL) is generally cleared first and has the highest chance of confirmation.
Is a waiting list ticket guaranteed?
Signing up for the waitlist grabs a spot in line, but does not guarantee that tickets will be available.