Indian Railways has issued a fresh advisory for passengers travelling with digital unreserved tickets, stating that only the original ticket displayed in the Rail One app will be accepted during ticket verification. The move aims to prevent misuse of digital tickets and strengthen the verification process.
According to the updated guidelines, passengers must present the original digital ticket within the Rail One app on the same mobile phone and registered mobile number used to book the ticket. The Railways has made it clear that screenshots, photographs, PDF copies, or tickets shared through WhatsApp or any other messaging platform will not be considered valid during ticket inspections.
The clarification follows a recent incident on the Korba–Visakhapatnam Link Express, where a passenger was fined after presenting a WhatsApp screenshot of a digital ticket. During verification, ticket-checking staff found that the ticket had been booked after the train had already departed from the boarding station and was not available on the passenger’s registered device. As a result, the screenshot was declared invalid, and the passenger was penalised as per railway regulations.
Indian Railways has also reiterated that digital unreserved tickets must be purchased before the train departs from the boarding station. Any ticket generated after departure will be treated as invalid, even if it appears in the Rail One app.
Passengers are advised to carry the same mobile phone used to book the ticket throughout their journey to ensure smooth verification. The latest guidelines apply specifically to digital unreserved tickets booked through the Rail One app.