- Mandatory photo ID for RailOne app general tickets.
- New rule effective from July 15, 2026.
- Screenshots invalid; show tickets within RailOne app.
Jagran Correspondent | Prayagraj: The Central Railway administration has implemented major changes to the rules for booking general tickets online. To book unreserved tickets through the RailOne app, passengers must now provide mandatory photo identification information. The new regulation is set to come into effect starting July 15.
What Does The Rule Say?
The rule will particularly apply to passengers who are booking their general tickets from the RailOne app on their mobile phones. If you book a ticket for the general compartment from the ticket counter at the railway station, you do not need to provide any identification proof. It will remain the same as before.
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Upon booking the ticket for the general compartment, you need to carry the same identity proof during the journey (Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN card, etc.).
Screenshots and WhatsApp tickets will no longer be valid
Passengers often used to book tickets from their mobile and send a screenshot or photo on WhatsApp to someone else's mobile. From now, these ways will be considered invalid. The ticket will be considered valid only when the ticket is booked through a mobile number. During checking, the TTE will have to show the ticket within the app itself. If you show WhatsApp or a screenshot, you can be considered as having no ticket and will be fined.
How To Book The Unreserved Tickets
Download the "RailOne App" from the Play Store app and log in through your registered mobile number.
Enter your journey's details. Go to the app's home page and select the 'Book Ticket' or 'General Ticket' option. Then, enter the destination (station name) you want to travel from.
Select the number of people you want to book tickets for (Note that all passenger details must be correct).
You'll now be presented with the ID card option. Here, you'll need to select the type of photo ID (such as Aadhaar card, driving licence, or voter ID) and enter its number.
Upon entering the information correctly, the ticket fare will be displayed on the screen. You can pay online using UPI, debit card, credit card, or net banking.
Once the payment is successful, your digital general ticket will appear in the app. This ticket will also contain your ID number. Now you can travel without any worries.
Why Did The Railway Rules Change?
The Central Railway authorities made the changes to prevent the selling of tickets in black, ensuring that the person booking the ticket actually travels. In many instances, people would book tickets and then give them to others, posing a security risk. Now, when tickets are booked through the app, the railways will retain the passenger's true identity, making travel even safer.
Prayagraj Division PRO Amit Kumar Singh said that starting July 15th, passengers should remember to carry their original ID with them whenever they leave home. If the ID listed on a ticket booked through the RailOne app does not match the actual ID you have, action may be taken according to railway regulations.