Railways clarifies unreserved ticket rule, says screenshots cannot be used for travel

Indian Railways has issued a clarification on its unreserved ticket rules, stating that screenshots cannot be used as valid proof of travel. The national transporter warns that a lack of understanding about digital ticketing could lead to inconvenience and penalties during the journey. Saurabh Jain, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of West Central Railway's Kota Division, explained that an unreserved ticket booked through the RailOne app is only valid on the specific mobile phone where the app is registered, from which the ticket was originally booked.

He emphasized that screenshots of tickets booked by others, sent via WhatsApp or other means, are not considered valid travel authority. Passengers must book their tickets themselves using their registered mobile phones and carry that same phone with them during their journey. Jain highlighted that a valid ticket must be obtained before boarding the train, and passengers cannot board without a ticket.

The official also clarified that a ticket obtained through someone else's mobile phone cannot be validated with a screenshot. To display a digital ticket, the mobile phone must be switched on and sufficiently charged. Passengers using the RailOne app should ensure their ticket is obtained before starting their journey, and the ticket must be available on the same mobile phone used for booking.

The railway has increased the minimum penalty for traveling without a proper ticket or with an irregular ticket, raising it from Rs 250 to Rs 500 from June 19, 2026.