Indian Railways has issued an important warning to passengers traveling on trains. According to the new clarification, displaying an invalid digital ticket purchased through the Rail One app as a WhatsApp message, screenshot, photo, or PDF file will not be considered valid.
Requirements for electronic tickets
If a passenger presents only a ticket received via WhatsApp during inspection, it will not be recognized as valid, and action may be taken against them. Although many people book tickets using mobile devices today, often one family member buys tickets for everyone and sends them via WhatsApp, or takes a screenshot for later use.
Conditions for non-reserved tickets
However, the railway states that this approach is incorrect in the case of non-reserved digital tickets. The ticket must be on the same mobile device from which the order was placed and linked to the same phone number used for booking. Furthermore, in addition to the ticket in the Rail One app, the passenger must carry a valid photo ID.
Differences between ticket types
It is important to note that this rule applies exclusively to non-reserved (general) digital tickets purchased through the Rail One app. The rules for regular reserved e-tickets remain unchanged.
Reasons for introducing new rules
The railway explains that this decision was made due to attempts by some people to abuse the rules by showing screenshots or copies from WhatsApp. This complicated the verification of the ticket's authenticity. Therefore, only the original live digital ticket is now considered valid to easily detect counterfeits and prevent fraud.
Incident leading to stricter control
The strictness of the rules was reinforced after an incident where a female passenger showed a ticket sent by her brother via WhatsApp during inspection. It was found that the ticket was not on the primary registered mobile phone, and the booking was made after the train had departed. Following this, the railway imposed a fine and re-clarified this rule.
Important points before travel
It was also clarified that even if a non-reserved digital ticket is purchased through the Rail One app, it must be issued before the train departs from the starting station. A ticket bought after the train has started moving may be deemed invalid, even if it is displayed in the Rail One app. Before traveling, if you purchase a general ticket through Rail One, you should ensure that the ticket is on the same phone from which the purchase was made, that the battery charge is sufficient, and that the ticket is open in the app, even without internet. You must also carry a valid photo ID. Screenshots or PDF files from WhatsApp should not be trusted.