Why Indian Railways may scrap RAC; two passengers share one berth but pay full fare

Reservation Against Cancellation or RAC is an often talked about class of tickets that allows you an assured berth on a train, but on a sharing basis. Now, Indian Railways is examining whether it should discontinue the RAC facility.

According to this TOI report, the proposal is being considered amid concerns about passenger comfort and whether a reservation arrangement that has existed for decades needs to be reconsidered. “There is a view that when a passenger isn’t getting full sleeping space, it may not be appropriate to charge the full fare,” said an official. Let’s first understand what is Reservation Against Cancellation ticket:

What is RAC and what are the rules for booking, berth allocation, cancellation and refunds?

RAC is a train ticket under which two passengers share a single berth even though each is charged the full fare and receives only half the sleeping space. RAC originated at a time when railway reservations were largely processed manually and there was no electronic mechanism to track cancellations and vacant berths in real time.

Under the system, two passengers could be accommodated on one berth, with the possibility of one of them being allotted a full berth if the other passenger cancelled the ticket. RAC bookings can also lead to uncomfortable situations when a male and a female passenger are allotted the same seat. Ticket examiners often find it difficult to arrange alternative accommodation in such cases.

Basically RAC allows passengers to travel in a reserved coach with confirmed sitting accommodation. However, Indian Railways' reservation rules do not guarantee them a full berth for sleeping. RAC passengers may be allotted full berths that become available because of cancellations or passengers not turning up before the train departs.

When cancellations create vacancies, these berths can be allotted to RAC passengers before waitlisted travellers are given confirmed accommodation. Berths that fall vacant during the journey may also be assigned to RAC passengers under the applicable railway rules. If no full berth is available, passengers must continue their journey using the reserved sitting accommodation that is allotted to them.

RAC status does not guarantee every passenger a separate sleeping berth. Nor does it mean that all RAC passengers must necessarily share a side-lower berth in every situation. The accommodation provided depends on the reservation and berth-allotment arrangements applicable to the particular train and class of travel.

The rules governing cancellations and refunds are determined by the applicable railway refund provisions. The amount refunded and the charges deducted depend, among other factors, on the status of the ticket when the cancellation is made.

The key distinction is that RAC permits passengers to travel with reserved sitting accommodation, while a full berth is allotted only if one becomes available. RAC tickets can be cancelled or refund applied online up to half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train. In case of cancellation of the train, the refund is automatically issued.

The practice of collecting the full fare from passengers travelling on RAC tickets has also come under scrutiny from a parliamentary panel, which questioned the justification for the arrangement. The panel has urged Indian Railways to review the existing system so that passengers are not charged the entire fare without receiving the benefit of a full berth.

The rules governing cancellations and refunds are determined by the applicable railway refund provisions. The amount refunded and the charges deducted depend, among other factors, on the status of the ticket when the cancellation is made. The key distinction is that RAC permits passengers to travel with reserved sitting accommodation, while a full berth is allotted only if one becomes available. RAC tickets can be cancelled or refund applied online up to half an hour before the scheduled departure of the train. In case of cancellation of the train, the refund is automatically issued.