Indian Railwayswaitlist crisispassenger dataRTItransport infrastructure
Over 3.39 Crore Passengers Denied Train Travel in FY 2025-26 Over Waitlist Non-Confirmation
Published: May 10, 2026
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More than 3.39 crore passengers in India could not travel during fiscal year 2025-26 after their waitlisted railway tickets remained unconfirmed and were automatically cancelled, according to RTI data obtained by activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur from Neemuch. The data, sourced from Indian Railways, shows a daily average of 92,877 passengers affected, with over 64 passengers per minute losing confirmed berths at chart preparation.
Sleeper Class bore the highest burden, with 1.68 crore passengers impacted, followed by 3AC with 74.55 lakh, indicating severe strain on mid- and lower-tier travel categories used by working-class travelers, students, and low-income families. The number of affected passengers has risen consistently from 1.65 crore in 2021-22 to 3.39 crore in 2025-26, underscoring a deepening capacity crisis on critical routes.
Each auto-cancellation represents not just a refund but potential loss of wages, missed medical appointments, or disrupted family travel, particularly for those without alternative transport options. Gaur criticized the Railways for prioritizing long-term modernization projects over immediate expansion of confirmed berths, calling the situation a 'national mobility failure.'
The data has intensified calls for urgent augmentation of train services and berths on high-demand routes. Indian Railways has not issued an official response, but pressure is mounting for concrete measures to address capacity gaps in the upcoming budget and operational planning cycle.