Are you planning to travel by train with a WhatsApp ticket? The railroad says it will not be accepted; check the rules

The railways has clarified that passengers with digital unreserved tickets booked through the RailOne app must present the original ticket on the same mobile phone that was used for booking. Copies shared via WhatsApp, screenshots, photos or PDF versions will not be accepted for ticket checks.

The updated rule also states that the ticket must remain in the registered handset from which it was issued. In addition, passengers are required to book a digital unreserved ticket before the train departs from the boarding station. Any ticket purchased after the train has departed will be considered invalid.

Clarification of railway problems

The clarification was also shared by South East Central Railway through its official X account.

The post said: “An unreserved ticket booked through the RailOne app is considered valid only on the same registered mobile from which the ticket was issued. It is also mandatory to carry a photo ID during the journey. Tickets received via WhatsApp, screenshot or other means are not considered valid travel authorization.”

The post was accompanied by an explanatory video outlining the revised requirements.

This clarification follows a recent incident where a passenger was fined after taking a WhatsApp screenshot instead of the original digital ticket during ticket inspection.

Users question the practical challenges

The announcement sparked widespread debate on social media, with several users arguing that the rule could prove inconvenient for elderly travelers and others who depend on relatives or friends to book their tickets.

Many have pointed out that while RailOne has become a widely used platform for booking unreserved tickets, the new requirement may cause problems in situations where the person making the booking is not the person travelling.

One user wrote: “Booking tickets online for my family. Tickets are valid and I have ID. Now what else is needed? This is just a thug.”

Another commented: “Make the rules so everyone can use them. Older people and many others don’t know how to use apps like RailOne or UTS. Do you even think about them? This isn’t the right system, it’s just a mess.”

A third user raised a similar concern, writing: “I book flights for my whole family and usually don’t travel with them. Now what should I do – give them my cell phone too?”