Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation [IRCTC] — refund of online ticket for 4 passengers (in waiting list)

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IRCTC

For the first time i booked my ticket through irctc online reservation. When i booked ticket for me & my family (4 people) from chengannur to kollam railway station it was in waiting list (20, 21, 22, 23). When i went to travel to chengannur, kerala railway station it was still on waiting list (15, 16, 17, 18), the enquiry counter lady and the ticket counter man told that you cannot travel with that waiting list online ticket hence you have to buy another ticket for travelling & said your online ticket would be refunded within few days by transferring the refund amount to your bank a/c by irctc. Hence i purchased another tickets for 4 persons and travelled.

Now i am getting the sms & email that my ticket has been cancelled successfully & no amount shall be refunded against this cancellation. I did not cancel my ticket.

I appreciate our governments efforts in making india cashless but this type of step would make people cash-less & would discourage people to make online reservations in future. This is cheating by the railways (Irctc).

Thomas m.
Kerala state
Email - thomas. M. [protected]@hotmail.com