ARP - Advance Reservation Period

 

ARP - Advance Reservation Period 

Sources: 

1. click for Commercial Circular 11 of 2015 

2. Click for Commercial Circular 10 of 2024

Features of New ARP

• ARP stands for Advance Reservation Period (of Trains in Indian Railways)

• New ARP policy -   w.e.f 01.11.2024 

• Time limit for ARP - 60 days (reduced from 120 days which was effective from 01.04.2015) 

• ARP is excluding date of journey 

• Bookings made up to 31.10.2024 under the current ARP of 120 days will remain valid. 

• Cancellations of bookings beyond the ARP of 60 days will still be permitted.

• No change for certain day-time express trains like Taj express, Gomti express, etc., - shorter ARP (30 days etc). Shorter ARP for such trains is mainly to accommodate daily commuters and tourists who usually plan shorter trips, unlike long-distance trains which require longer advance booking windows.

• Authority:  The Railway Board periodically reviews and issues specific circulars or notifications detailing ARP changes for such trains.

• FTQ (Foreign Tourist Quota) in certain premium trains like Rajdhani Express - 365 day limit of ARP - continued as usual.

• This long ARP is provided to encourage international tourism and accommodate the planning needs of foreign tourists, who often organise trips months in advance.

• Only foreign nationals and NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) with valid passports can avail of the FTQ.

Rationale of ARP 60 Days: 

• To promote genuine passengers and help the Railway Board to improve the visibility of genuine demand for rail travel in India. 

• It was noticed that about 21% of reservations done for 61 to 120 day periods were getting cancelled.

• Also noticed that about 5% of passengers were neither cancelling their tickets nor were they undertaking the journey. 

• The New ARP of 60 days will help Indian Railways in better planning of special trains during peak seasons. 

• With this shorter ARP of 60 days, Passengers will now once again have better clarity in their travel plans, reducing the current 21% cancellation rate.   

• Reduces the chances of ticket hoarding, making more tickets available for genuine passengers.  

• 1995 to 1998 Period -  The ARP is as low as 30 days only 

Key Points: 

1. ARP stands for Advance Reservation Period 

2. New ARP - 60 days 

3. New ARP effective from 01.11.2024

4. New ARP - Authority is Commercial Circular 10 of 2024

5. FTQ stands for Foreign Tourist Quota

6. ARP for FTQ is 365 days

7. ARP for certain day time trains like Gomti express, Taj express - 30 days or as decided by the Indian Railways from time to time.