A huge number of passengers faced trouble with railway bookings in the financial year 2025-26. According to RTI data obtained by activist Chandrashekhar Gaud, more than 3.39 crore people could not complete their journey because their waiting list tickets did not get confirmed. This means roughly 92,877 passengers every day missed their travel.
How many passengers were affected by waiting lists?
The problem of waiting lists has increased significantly over the last few years. In the financial year 2021-22, about 1.65 crore people were unable to travel, but this number jumped to 3.39 crore by 2025-26. The impact was highest in the Sleeper and 3AC classes.
| Class | Passengers unable to travel |
|---|---|
| Sleeper Class | 1.68 Crore |
| 3AC Class | 74.55 Lakh |
What changes is Indian Railways bringing to solve this?
Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to upgrade the booking system. From August 2026, the 40-year-old Passenger Reservation System (PRS) will be replaced by a new AI-powered system. This new system will predict ticket confirmation chances more accurately. Additionally, the railway is laying 14 km of new tracks daily to increase capacity.
New rules for tickets and apps from 2025-26
Several changes have been introduced to help passengers and stop black marketing. From June 2025, charts are being prepared 24 hours before travel, starting as a pilot project in Bikaner Division. From March 1, 2026, the UTS app was stopped and replaced by the RailOne app for platform and season tickets. Also, Aadhaar verification is now mandatory for online Tatkal bookings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the new AI-powered reservation system?
Indian Railways will launch a new AI-based system in August 2026 to replace the old PRS. It will provide more accurate predictions on whether a waiting ticket will get confirmed.
Which app should be used for platform and season tickets now?
From March 1, 2026, the UTS app has been discontinued. Passengers must now use the RailOne app for general, platform, and monthly season tickets.