‘Write to reservation chief for transfer of train tickets to kin’

TNN | Updated: Oct 30, 2017, 07:56 IST



CHENNAI: One of the most common issues that railway passengers face during the holiday season is transferring a confirmed ticket to a family member due to unforeseen cirumstances. Southern Railway recently received complaints that passengers are facing problems in getting this process done.

According to railway rules, the Chief Reservation Supervisor (CRS) is authorised by the railway administration to permit the change of name of a passenger who has a reserved seat or berth to a family member's. The ticket can be exchanged only with a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband or wife, rules state.

Recently, a senior citizen from Adambakkam who wanted to transfer his wife's ticket to his daughter was asked by staff at St Thomas Mount, his nearest booking counter, to travel up to Chennai Central station. At Central station, he faced further difficulties and in exasperation, he cancelled the trip.

A senior railway official said Passenger Reservation System (PRS) ticket counters at important stations will have a CRS. "For the name change, a request in writing has to be given 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in his/her name may be transferred to another member of his/her family," the official said.

An identity proof, which establishes the relationship of the two persons between whom the ticket exchange has to be made, should be provided to the CRS with the letter, the official said. "This can be a ration card or passport or any other document," he said.

This formality can be completed at any PRS counter and not necessarily at the one at which the ticket was booked.

The ticket can also be exchanged between students of recognised educational institutes. In this case, the head of the institution has to give a written request 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, stating that the reservation should be transferred between students