Indian Railways warns passengers that screenshots of RailOne tickets are invalid
Indian Railways has issued a strict reminder to passengers regarding the use of the RailOne mobile application for unreserved travel, emphasizing that screenshots will no longer be accepted. Passengers must display their valid digital tickets directly from the app to avoid heavy fines. Here are the key updates you need to know for your next journey:
Screenshots and forwarded PDF copies of RailOne tickets are completely invalid and risk a heavy penalty.
The minimum penalty for traveling with an irregular or invalid ticket has been increased to ₹500 effective June 19, 2026.
Passengers must carry the original photo ID used during booking starting July 15, 2026.
Understanding the RailOne Ticket Rules
Authorities have clarified that photographs, PDF copies, or forwarded images of tickets sent via messaging platforms like WhatsApp do not constitute valid travel authority. To avoid a fine, passengers must display the original digital ticket directly within the registered RailOne app on the mobile device used for the booking. Furthermore, officials emphasized that the mobile device displaying the ticket must remain powered on and sufficiently charged for the entire duration of the journey.
Saurabh Jain, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of West Central Railway's Kota Division, noted that passengers must secure a valid ticket prior to boarding. Boarding a train without a ticket and attempting to generate one upon sighting ticket-checking staff is strictly prohibited.
New ID Requirements and App Background
As of July 15, 2026, users booking unreserved tickets via RailOne must provide valid photo identification during the booking process and carry that same original document while traveling.
The RailOne application was launched in July 2025 by the Centre for Railway Information Systems under the Ministry of Railways to serve as a unified platform for unreserved ticketing services. Recent enforcement reports from September 2026 indicate a renewed effort by the national transporter to ensure strict passenger compliance and prevent avoidable fines across the network.