More than 3.39 crore railway passengers in India were unable to travel during the financial year 2025–26 after their waitlisted tickets remained unconfirmed and were automatically cancelled before departure, according to information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The figures, revealed in replies received by Neemuch-based RTI activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur, highlight the growing pressure on the country’s railway network and the widening gap between passenger demand and available berths.

The RTI data shows that unconfirmed tickets were cancelled at the stage of chart preparation, preventing millions of passengers from boarding trains across the country. The scale of the crisis becomes more striking when broken down over time. On average, nearly 92,877 passengers per day, around 3,870 passengers every hour, and more than one passenger every second lost the opportunity to travel because they could not secure confirmed seats or berths.

The data also indicates a steady rise in the number of affected passengers over the past five years. In 2021–22, approximately 1.65 crore passengers were unable to travel due to non-confirmation of tickets. The number increased to 2.72 crore in 2022–23, 2.96 crore in 2023–24, and 3.27 crore in 2024–25 before reaching 3.39 crore in 2025–26. The continuing upward trend reflects mounting demand on India’s railway system, which remains the primary mode of affordable long-distance travel for millions of citizens.

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Sleeper Class passengers were the worst affected, accounting for nearly 1.68 crore cancelled journeys. This category is widely used by migrant workers, students, lower-income families, and small traders who depend on affordable rail travel. The RTI records also showed significant disruption in air-conditioned categories, with around 74.55 lakh passengers in 3AC unable to obtain confirmed tickets. Large numbers of passengers in 2AC were also affected, suggesting that the shortage of confirmed berths now extends across multiple travel classes rather than being limited to budget segments alone.

For many passengers, an auto-cancelled ticket carries consequences far beyond inconvenience. Missed examinations, delayed medical appointments, lost wages, cancelled family events, and costly last-minute travel alternatives are among the difficulties faced by travellers who fail to secure confirmed reservations. In a country where the railway system serves as a critical economic and social lifeline, the growing waitlist problem has raised concerns about accessibility and mobility for ordinary citizens.

Commenting on the findings, Chandra Shekhar Gaur said the figures expose a severe shortage of trains and confirmed berths on heavily used routes. He urged the Railways to focus on immediate measures to address overcrowding and rising waitlists rather than concentrating only on long-term modernisation projects. While the Railways has continued to promote infrastructure upgrades, faster trains, and redevelopment initiatives, the latest RTI data has renewed questions over whether capacity expansion is keeping pace with the rapidly growing demand for passenger travel across India.

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