The Ministry of Railways has made a significant announcement regarding ticket policies for upcoming train services. Reserved tickets for the Amrit Bharat II Express trains will follow the exact same rules as those for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services. This decision means there will be no separate reserved ticket policy for the new Amrit Bharat II Express category.
New Policy Notification
In a notification issued on January 19, 2026, the Ministry of Railways clearly stated the new provisions. "The reserved ticket of Amrit Bharat II Express shall be governed by the rules as are applicable to the reserved ticket of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express," the notification read. This alignment simplifies the ticketing system for passengers and railway authorities alike.
Understanding Amrit Bharat II Express
According to railway officials, the Amrit Bharat II Express category includes trains that will be introduced across India's extensive railway network starting January 2026. These trains represent a new generation of rail service, offering affordable and safe long-distance inter-state travel with modern passenger-friendly features.
Revised Fare Structure
The national transporter has established a new fare structure for these trains. For Sleeper class, the minimum chargeable distance has been fixed at 200 kilometers. For Second class, the minimum distance is 50 kilometers. However, the basic fare for these new Amrit Bharat Express trains remains unchanged from previous Amrit Bharat Express services introduced before January 2026.
The basic fare stands at Rs 149 for Sleeper class journeys up to 200 km. For Second class journeys up to 50 km, the fare is Rs 36. In a letter dated January 15, 2026, the Railway Board clarified additional charges. "Other charges like reservation charge, Superfast surcharge etc as applicable shall be levied separately. Rounding off of fare shall be made as per existing principle," the letter stated.
Ticketing Rule Changes
The Railway Board has implemented several important changes to ticketing rules. Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) will no longer be available in Sleeper class on these trains. This represents a significant shift from traditional railway ticketing practices.
However, tickets for unreserved Second class will continue to be issued according to existing provisions. The Railway Board letter explained, "There shall be no provision for RAC tickets. For unreserved second class, tickets shall be issued as per existing provision. All available berths will be available from the day of Advance Reservation Period."
Quota System Simplified
For the Sleeper class of Amrit Bharat II Express trains, only three specific quotas will apply. These include:
- Ladies quota
- Quota for Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
- Senior Citizen quota
The Railway Board emphasized that no other reservation quotas shall be applicable for these trains. For unreserved second class, existing principles will continue to govern quota allocations. Railway employees' Duty Pass eligibility will remain consistent with eligibility in Mail/Express type trains.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Comparison
In a related notification issued on January 15, the Railway Board clarified that Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will also have no provision for RAC tickets. The minimum chargeable distance for these trains has been set at 400 kilometers.
The quota system for Vande Bharat Sleeper Express includes Ladies quota, quota for Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizen quota, and Duty Pass quota as per existing instructions. Similar to Amrit Bharat II Express, no other reservation quotas will apply to these trains.
The alignment of policies between these two train categories creates consistency across India's premium rail services. Passengers can expect similar rules and regulations whether traveling on Vande Bharat Sleeper or the new Amrit Bharat II Express trains.
