Complaints

IRCTC TDR Filing: Time Limits and Rejected TDR Letter

Pick what happened — see the last time to file your TDR. If it was rejected or the refund is late, get the letter to IRCTC.

IRCTC refund rules Deadline worked out Free letter

See the letter and download ↓

What happened

Reason

Train actually left your station (if it has)

Scheduled departure from your station

Train actually reached your destination

Date the TTE gave the certificate

Letter if the TDR was rejected or the refund has not come

Fill this only if you need it — the letter on the right updates as you type.

Your name (as on the ticket)

PNR

TDR / reference no. (optional)

Train no. and name

Date of journey

From

TDR filed on

Refund due (₹, optional)

What happened to the TDR

Reason given for rejection (optional)

What actually happened (your words)

Mobile

Email (optional)

Date of letter

Everything you type stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded or saved.

Follows IRCTC’s refund rules for e-tickets. Check the IRCTC app for the latest.

The time limits in IRCTC’s refund rules (e-tickets)

Train more than 3 hours late, you did not travel: full refund only if the TDR is filed online before the train actually leaves your station. After it leaves — no refund. (Rule 6)
Railway could not give accommodation: full refund if surrendered within three hours of actual departure. (Rule 7)
You ended the journey on the way: TDR online up to 72 hours after the scheduled departure; the certificate from the ticket-checking staff goes by post to IRCTC. (Rule 8)
AC not working: TDR within 20 hours of the train’s actual arrival at your destination, and post the original certificate (GC/EFT) from the TTE to IRCTC. You get the fare difference for that part of the journey. (Rule 9)
Lower class: if it was given at the first chart, the difference comes back automatically; if after the chart, TDR within two days of the certificate’s date (not counting that day) and post the certificate. (Rule 10)
Train diverted: TDR up to 72 hours of the scheduled departure.

Where certificates go: Group General Manager/IT, Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited, 2nd Floor, Tower-D, World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi-110029. IRCTC sends the claim to the zonal railway where the train ends; the refund comes back to the account you paid from.

If it is rejected or slow: send the letter to etickets@irctc.co.in or raise it on equery.irctc.co.in (14646). Still stuck after that — file on CPGRAMS (Ministry of Railways) with the same letter, or use the IRCTC complaint ladder.

Source: IRCTC, Refund Rules and TDR Filing w.e.f. 12 November 2015, rules 6–10 (PDF on irctc.co.in, copy dated 19 Jan 2026), checked 10 Nov 2026. Rules for counter (i-) tickets differ — see the PDF.

Kaise use karein

Wajah chunein aur train ka samay bharein — TDR ki aakhri tareekh dikh jaayegi.
TDR reject ho to PNR aur details bharein.
Letter IRCTC ko email karein; hal na ho to CPGRAMS par daalein.

Train 3 ghante late?

TDR train ke chhootne se pehle hi file karein — baad mein refund nahi milta (IRCTC rule 6).

Questions people ask

How do I file a TDR when the train is late by more than 3 hours?

Log in on IRCTC, go to My Transactions → File TDR, choose the PNR and the reason “Train late more than three hours”, and file it before the train actually leaves your station. IRCTC’s rule 6 gives a full refund only then; a TDR filed after the train has left gets no refund.

What is the time limit to file a TDR for AC not working?

Within 20 hours of the train’s actual arrival at your destination (rule 9). Also post the original certificate (GC/EFT) from the TTE to IRCTC in New Delhi. The refund is the fare difference for the part of the journey without AC.

My TDR was rejected — what can I do?

Write to IRCTC (etickets@irctc.co.in or equery.irctc.co.in, 14646) with the PNR, the TDR number and the facts — this page writes that letter. If it is not fixed, file the same on CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) under the Ministry of Railways, or go to the consumer commission.

Who decides the TDR?

IRCTC forwards the claim to the zonal railway where the train ends; after the railway pays, IRCTC credits the refund to the account you booked from (IRCTC refund rules).

Is my data uploaded?

No. The dates are worked out and the letter is made in your browser.

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