Railways clarifies mobile tickets valid for unreserved train travel

Indian Railways has reiterated that passengers travelling with unreserved tickets can continue to rely on digital tickets displayed on their mobile phones, dismissing reports that suggested printed tickets had become mandatory.

Railway officials clarified that no new directives have been issued requiring commuters to carry printed copies of unreserved tickets. Travellers who book tickets digitally and choose not to take a printout and can show the ticket on their mobile device to ticket checking staff. However, passengers who opt for a printed ticket must carry the physical copy during the journey, as per existing norms.

The clarification follows confusion after some media reports claimed that unreserved passengers would be required to produce printed tickets. Indian Railways said these claims were incorrect and emphasised that mobile-based verification is fully acceptable whie travelling in unreserved compartments.

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The continued acceptance of digital tickets aligns with the railways’ broader push towards paperless travel. Online booking through the IRCTC platform has grown steadily, significantly reducing queues at station counters and making ticketing more accessible for passengers across the country.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on December 3, 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the scale of this shift, stating that e-tickets now account for more than 87 per cent of all reserved tickets booked on Indian Railways.

Alongside reaffirming its digital ticket policy, Indian Railways has also introduced changes to the preparation schedule of reservation charts to improve transparency for passengers, particularly those holding waiting list (WL) or reservation against cancellation (RAC) tickets. While this move is aimed at easing travel-related uncertainty, officials stressed that it does not affect the validity of digital tickets for unreserved travel.

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Railway authorities said the emphasis on mobile tickets reflects both passenger preference and operational efficiency, adding that there has been no rollback on digital verification practices. For unreserved journeys, displaying a valid ticket on a smartphone continues to be sufficient proof of travel.