How To Travel On Indian Railways Without A Train Ticket (Legally)
Train travel is the most dependable means of transport whether it be for a short journey or a long train trip. But many times, despite our best efforts we are unable to secure a train ticket. Sometimes people are unable to book tickets at the counter because of the huge rush, oftentimes passengers are unable to book the tatkal ticket at the last moment while many times there is just not enough time to buy a ticket during an emergency situation.
The biggest question that emerges here is that can we travel in Indian Railways, without a train ticket? Although Indian Railways doesn’t allow or promote travelling without a train ticket, it is not entirely impossible.
In this blog we will discuss in detail how you can legally travel on a train without a ticket, what is Railways’ Excess Fare Ticket (EFT) and buying a platform ticket can be a great relief.
Boarding the Train Without a Train Ticket and Informing the TTE
Whenever someone travels without a ticket, they try to hide it from the Train Ticket Examiner or TTE. However, that shouldn’t be done and is completely illegal. You would be imposed with a fine or even imprisonment.
The best step, if you are travelling without a train ticket, is to inform the TTE at the earliest possible time. By voluntarily declaring your situation you won’t be considered a fraud. Rather, you would be considered as someone seeking an Excess Fair Ticket.
Understanding Indian Railways’ Excess Fare Ticket (EFT)
The Excess Fair Ticket (EFT) is a ticket issued by the TTE for the passengers who are:
- Travelling on the train without a train ticket
- Travelling on a coach higher than the one issued on the train ticket
- Travelling farther than the destination mentioned on the ticket
Excess Fare Ticket is made and assigned by the TTE on the train itself or on the Railway Platform. When a passenger travelling without a train ticket explains the situation, the TTC looks for vacant seats on the train. If a vacant seat of your choosing is available, it will be provided to you. If the seat is not available you would be shifted to unreserved coaches.
The Excess Fair Ticket (EFT), as suggested by the name, carries an extra charge over a regular train ticket. EFT is equal to the price of the original ticket, in addition to a fine ₹250 (for General and Sleeper), ₹440 (for Air Conditioned classes) or the original price of ticket, whichever is more. For example, if the original ticket cost ₹500 for Sleeper class, then with EFT the charge will be ₹1000 (₹500 + ₹500, as ₹500 is more than ₹250).
However there is a catch here. The TTE is not aware of the station you boarded the train on. The TTE in such a situation is eligible to demand you a fare from the origin station. For example, if you boarded the train from Delhi trying to go to Patna, but the train began from Kanpur the TTE can demand train ticket fare from Kanpur to Patna.
This might seem a bit excessive, but it is necessary to establish discipline and discourage misuse.
Using the Platform Ticket to Your Advantage
In the previous section, we explained to you how the fair charge is up to the discretion of the TTE. The TTE can charge you from the Boarding station you are claiming or from the origin station of the train. This depends upon the discretion of the TTE.
However, you have an important arsenal up your sleeve in such a situation: A Platform Ticket. Platform Ticket is usually bought by people who need to visit the platform but are not here for boarding any trains.
This platform ticket can also be ingeniously used as a low cost Boarding proof. You can show the Platform Ticket to the TTE, establishing that you didn’t board the station from the origin station, but the one you are claiming at.
This smart hack ensures that you do not need to pay an exorbitant high amount for a ticket that is already being sold at an inflated price.
If you want to check the train’s arrival and departure timings, you can do so easily with RailMitra’s train schedule service. With this service, you can also check stations on the route, halt timings, duration of the journey, etc.
EFT Rules for Different Coaches
We have informed you about the methods to use if you board without a train ticket using Excess Fair Ticket (EFT). Now let’s discuss what are the coachwise rules for EFT:
General Coaches:
General Coaches are the safest to board when travelling without a train ticket. Inform the TTE about your situation. The TTE will make your ticket on the train with the price mentioned above.
Sleeper Coaches:
Sleeper coaches can also be boarded if you don’t have a train ticket and want to use the Excess Fair Ticket scheme. However, inform the TTE yourself before they come to your seat. Honesty goes a long way here and is very important as the ticket issuing process is dependent on the TTE’s discretion.
TTE will check if there are berths in the Sleeper class. If the berths are available, they will be allotted to you. If there are no berths available you might be asked to go to the General or Unreserved classes.
Air-conditioned Coaches:
Air-conditioned coaches such as 3AC, 2AC and 1AC are perhaps the trickiest and high risk berths to board without a train ticket. You must inform the TTE by yourself with complete honesty and sincerity.
Just like for Sleeper classes, in Air-conditioned classes also the TTE will check for available seats. If there are seats available, it can be allotted to you with the same pricing mechanism as stated above. When no seats are available, you would be asked to shift to the General classes.
If you have booked a train ticket and want to check if it has been confirmed or not, you can do so easily with RailMitra’s PNR Status check. With this service you also get information about whether your train chart has been prepared or not.
Special Situations Where Travelling Without a Train Ticket is Premitted
Indian Railways strictly prohibits travelling on trains without a ticket, if you are travelling without one you will be charged with a hefty ticket price as mentioned above. However, there are many instances where Indian Railways allow boarding without a train ticket. Here are some of the examples of this:
Railway Employees on Duty:
Railway staff on duty don’t need to buy a train ticket. They travel on Railway ID Cards and Duty Passes instead of a train ticket.
Railway Pass holders:
Indian Railways issues Railway Passes for Indian Railways employees, certain government employees, MPs and MLAs, Freedom Fighters, Gallantry Awards Winner, Civilian Award Winners, etc. These complimentary rail passes serve as alternative train tickets.
Children below 5 years of age:
Children below the age of 5 don’t need a train ticket and can travel without one. However, they can’t travel solo and need a guardian to travel with. The guardian needs to have a train ticket.
Movement of Army or other Uniformed Forces:
Many times Indian Armed forces or other uniformed forces move from one place to another for work related purposes. They travel on movement orders instead of a train ticket.
Conclusion
Travelling on Indian Trains without a train ticket is strictly prohibited and should be avoided in all cases. However, under unavoidable conditions Indian Railways does provide a legal way for you to travel using the Excess Fair Ticket System. If you inform the TTE proactively and with honesty you can avoid being treated as a ticketless traveller.
With EFT, the prices would be higher than the regular ticket prices: almost double the normal prices. Also, the berths are subject to availability and if not available you could be transferred to the General coaches.
So, although it is possible to travel without a train ticket in Indian Railways, it should be avoided unless the journey is absolutely necessary. Buying a ticket and travelling with it is the cheapest, safest and stress-free way to travel on Indian Railways.
If you are travelling on trains and are craving for some delicious restaurant style food in train, you can use RailMitra’s train food delivery services. With RailMitra you get lightning fast delivery, at surprisingly affordable prices directly on your train seat.