Railway Ministry Rolls Back 25% Cap, Allows 60% Waiting List For AC Coaches

The Railway Ministry has revised its earlier decision to cap waiting list tickets at 25 percent of capacity across all travel classes. In a new directive issued on June 28, 2025, the cap has been significantly increased-up to 60 percent for all air-conditioned (AC) classes and 30 percent for non-AC classes. This latest move supersedes the April 17 order that took effect on June 16 and had sparked widespread passenger dissatisfaction and internal concerns among railway personnel.

The original 25 percent limit had been introduced to curb overcrowding and address allegations that Indian Railways was allowing excessive waiting list bookings, which not only led to congestion but also allegedly increased revenue through cancellations. However, the move was met with resistance from reservation supervisors, ticket clerks, and senior commercial officers, who raised concerns over its economic viability and practicality.

Critics of the earlier cap argued that waiting lists serve as a crucial metric for assessing passenger demand and help the Railways plan for special train services during peak seasons. Limiting waiting list bookings to just 25 percent, they said, undermined this vital planning tool and negatively impacted the system's responsiveness to actual demand.

Though Railway Board Executive Director Dilip Kumar initially defended the decision by citing internal data on waiting list confirmations, the widespread criticism prompted a rapid policy review.

Under the revised policy, the waiting list cap has been expanded to 60 percent for all AC classes and 30 percent for non-AC classes. These limits now apply to bookings made at both originating and roadside stations, including those under the Tatkal scheme. However, tickets issued under concessional fares and special travel warrants will continue to remain exempt from these caps.

The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has updated its reservation software in line with the new order and notified all zonal railways to implement the changes.

This revision is intended to better align with real-world travel patterns by offering increased flexibility for passengers-particularly those booking in high-demand AC classes. The change is also expected to assist the Railways in more accurately tracking passenger demand, thereby enhancing overall operational efficiency.

In essence, the Railway Ministry has responded to public and expert feedback by adjusting the waiting list policy to a more practical framework-raising the cap from the earlier 25 percent to 60 percent for AC classes and 30 percent for non-AC ones-ensuring improved service, better demand management, and greater passenger convenience.