Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Railways Says Unreserved Ticket Screenshots Invalid, Warns Of Penalties
Indian Railways has explained how passengers must use digital unreserved tickets.
A ticket booked in the RailOne app is linked to the phone used for booking.
A screenshot sent by another person is not enough to prove that you have a valid ticket.
This includes screenshots shared through WhatsApp or other services.
Passengers must book their ticket before getting on the train.
They cannot board first and create a ticket later after seeing ticket-checking staff.
The booking phone must be carried during the journey.
It should be switched on and have enough battery to show the ticket.
The minimum penalty for travelling without a proper ticket is reported to increase from Rs 250 to Rs 500 on June 19, 2026.
Indian Railways says screenshots of unreserved tickets are not valid proof of travel.
A RailOne ticket is valid only on the registered phone used to book it.
Tickets booked by someone else and shared through WhatsApp or other means are not accepted.
Passengers must book before boarding and carry a switched-on, sufficiently charged phone.
The minimum penalty for an improper or missing ticket reportedly rises from Rs 250 to Rs 500 on June 19, 2026.
- Who
- Indian Railways and Saurabh Jain, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of West Central Railway’s Kota Division.
- What
- Indian Railways clarified that screenshots of RailOne unreserved tickets are not valid travel authority.
- When
- The article says the minimum penalty change takes effect on June 19, 2026; no date is given for the clarification itself.
- Where
- The rule applies to digital unreserved-ticket journeys on Indian Railways, including tickets booked through RailOne.
- Why
- To ensure passengers follow digital-ticket requirements and avoid inconvenience or penalties during ticket checks.
- Ticket type
- Unreserved railway tickets
- Booking platform
- RailOne app
- Valid device
- The registered mobile phone used to make the booking
- Invalid proof
- A screenshot or ticket image shared from another person’s phone
- Booking deadline
- The ticket must be generated before boarding the train
- Phone requirement
- The registered phone must be carried, switched on, and sufficiently charged
- Penalty change
- The minimum penalty is reported to increase from Rs 250 to Rs 500 effective June 19, 2026
