Indian Railways may scrap the decades-old RAC shared-berth system
NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is examining the possibility of discontinuing the decades-old Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) facility, under which two passengers are allotted a single berth while both are charged the full ticket fare.
The move is being considered amid growing concerns over passenger comfort and fairness. No final decision has been taken yet. Officials are reviewing the existing arrangement and exploring alternative options.
What is RAC and How Does It Work?
RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) is a ticket status that falls between a confirmed berth and a waitlisted ticket. It allows passengers to board reserved coaches even when a full sleeping berth is not available at the time of booking.
Under the current system, two RAC passengers are typically allotted one side-lower berth. During the day, the berth is used as seating.
At night, the two passengers share it for sleeping. If a confirmed passenger cancels, an RAC ticket holder may be upgraded to a full berth, depending on availability and priority.
The facility was introduced when railway reservations were largely managed manually. It helped accommodate more passengers by utilising berths that could become vacant due to last-minute cancellations. The system continued even after the introduction of computerised reservation systems.
Why is It Being Reviewed?
The main concern is that passengers pay the full fare despite receiving only shared sleeping space. “There’s a view that when a passenger isn’t getting full sleeping space, it may not be appropriate to charge the full fare,” a senior railway official told The Times of India.
The arrangement can also create practical difficulties, particularly when a male and a female passenger are allotted the same berth. Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) often struggle to find alternative arrangements in such cases.
In February 2026, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament examined the issue. In its report on punctuality and travel time in train operations, the panel described the practice of charging full fare for shared accommodation as unjustified.
It recommended that the Railway Ministry devise a mechanism to provide partial fare refunds to passengers who do not receive a full berth.
Alternatives Under Consideration
According to reports, the Railways is exploring several options, including:
• Providing a full berth to each passenger instead of requiring two people to share one
• Charging a lower fare for shared accommodation
• Introducing a different upgrade mechanism to improve berth allocation
Newer services such as Vande Bharat Sleeper trains already operate without the conventional RAC system and allot fully confirmed berths.
While the RAC facility has helped maximise seat utilisation for decades, passenger expectations around comfort and value for money have evolved.
Any decision to scrap or modify the system will need to balance passenger convenience with the practical need to accommodate as many travellers as possible on high-demand routes.
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