Indian Railways has said digital unreserved tickets will only be valid if shown on the Rail One app, on the same phone used to book them. Copies sent through WhatsApp will no longer be accepted.
Railways has made it clear that only the original ticket shown live on the Rail One app will be accepted during checks.
Screenshots, photos, PDF copies, and tickets sent through WhatsApp or any other messaging app will not count as valid proof of travel.
It’s also compulsory now for the ticket to be shown on the same mobile phone that was used to book it.
Passengers must buy digital unreserved tickets before the train leaves the boarding station. Any ticket booked after the train has already departed will be treated as invalid.
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Why did Railways issue this clarification?
South East Central Railway shared the same information on its official X account.
The post said, “An unreserved ticket booked through the RailOne App is considered valid only on the same registered mobile from which the ticket was issued. It is also mandatory to carry a photo identity card along with the said mobile during the journey. Tickets received via WhatsApp, screenshot, or other means are not considered valid travel authorisation.” The post also included a video.
The clarification came after a passenger was recently fined for showing a WhatsApp screenshot instead of the original digital ticket.
Internet reacts
Many social media users raised concerns over the new rule, saying it could create problems for elderly passengers and others who rely on family members to book unreserved tickets for them.
While RailOne has become a popular platform for booking tickets, several users questioned how the rule would work in real-life situations where the person travelling isn’t the one who bought the ticket.
“I book online tickets for my family. The tickets are valid, and I have the ID. What else is needed now? This is just thuggery,” one user wrote.
Another commented, “Make rules in such a way that everyone can use them. Elderly people and many others don’t know how to use apps like RailOne or UTS. Do you even think about them? This isn’t a proper system; it’s just a mess.”
A third user pointed out a common concern, writing, “I book tickets for my entire family, and most of the time I don’t travel with them. What am I supposed to do now-give them my mobile phone as well?”
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FAQs
1: What counts as valid proof of travel now?
Only the original ticket shown live on the Rail One app will be accepted during checks. Screenshots, photos, PDF copies, and tickets sent through WhatsApp or any other messaging app will not count as valid proof of travel.
2: Can I book a ticket after the train has already left?
No. Passengers must buy digital unreserved tickets before the train leaves the boarding station. Any ticket booked after the train has departed will be treated as invalid.