Overview
- Railways has made clear that unreserved digital tickets booked through the RailOne app are valid only as the original ticket shown on the same mobile device used to book them and must be accessible during the journey.
- Ticket examiners will not accept screenshots, photos, PDF copies or tickets forwarded via WhatsApp or other messaging apps and may treat travellers without the original app ticket as travelling without a valid ticket.
- The clarification followed a recent enforcement incident on Train No. 18517 and was posted by South East Central Railway with an explanatory video, with initial reports published on July 10–11.
- Passengers must buy unreserved RailOne tickets before the train departs, keep the booking phone charged and carry a government photo ID, or face fines, purchase of a fresh ticket, or other action under railway rules.
- Officials say the change is meant to curb fraud and speed verification, but users have warned it will cause practical problems for elderly travellers and for people who rely on others to book tickets for them.