A small policy shift is about to save travellers money and time. From January, confirmed tickets will allow a one time date change online without a cancellation fee. Instead of cancelling and losing a chunk of fare, you will move the same booking to a new day if a seat is available in the same class. The goal is to make rail travel more forgiving when plans slip by a day.
Here is how to think about the rollout. Expect a window during which you can request the change and a rule that keeps the origin and destination the same. If you picked a concession or a promotional fare, the system may not allow a change or may ask you to pay the difference when the new date is more expensive. Group bookings could see separate rules because inventory management is tighter for large parties. The easiest way to use the feature will be through your account where the ticket sits with a change option next to it.
This is not only about customer happiness. It also improves inventory planning. When travellers shift rather than cancel, the freed seats go back into the pool quickly and the waitlist clears for someone else. The best practice for you is simple. Decide early, change once and keep screenshots of the confirmation.
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