Buying your train ticket at the station? New insurance protection is coming

If you usually buy your train tickets at a railway station rather than booking online, you could soon benefit from extra protection when you travel. From 27 October 2026, Indian Railways must extend travel insurance to tickets purchased at station counters, following a  Supreme Court ruling.

Until now, you’ve only been able to access the existing railway travel insurance scheme when booking eligible tickets online through IRCTC. The new ruling aims to give you the same protection regardless of how you book.

So what could you be covered for, how much will it cost and what should you check before travelling?

What insurance protection could you get?

Under the existing IRCTC online scheme, you can pay a small additional premium for financial protection against specified railway accidents and other covered incidents.

The current scheme offers:

• Up to ₹10 lakh for death or permanent total disability.
• Up to ₹7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability.
• Up to ₹2 lakh towards hospitalisation expenses following injury.
• Up to ₹10,000 towards transporting mortal remains.

The insurance currently costs just 45 paise per passenger, including taxes.

However, these are the benefits available under the existing online scheme. Indian Railways still needs to confirm exactly how insurance will work for tickets purchased at station counters.

Will you automatically be covered?

The Supreme Court has directed Indian Railways to provide insurance for tickets sold at railway counters from 27 October. However, the practical arrangements haven’t yet been confirmed, including whether you’ll need to provide additional information, how much you’ll pay and how you’ll receive proof of insurance.

There are also eligibility restrictions under the existing online scheme. For example, cover is generally available to Indian citizens with confirmed, partly confirmed or RAC reservations, but not fully waitlisted bookings. You’ll need to check whether these restrictions also apply to the new counter-ticket arrangements.

Why is this changing?

Until now, the way you bought your ticket could determine whether you had access to travel insurance. If you booked online, you could choose to add insurance for a small fee. But if you bought your ticket at a station counter, you didn’t have the same option.

The Supreme Court raised concerns about this difference, particularly because passengers who rely on station bookings may have less access to digital services. The ruling follows wider concerns about railway safety after the Odisha train accident in June 2023.

What should you check before travelling?

If you’re buying a ticket at a railway station from 27 October, ask whether insurance is included and how you can confirm your cover.

It’s also worth checking:

• Whether your ticket and journey qualify for insurance.
• Whether you need to provide passenger or nominee details.
• What incidents are covered and how to make a claim.

Keep your ticket and any insurance documents somewhere safe. You or your family may need them if you ever have to make a claim.

You can check for updates through  Indian Railways or  IRCTC.

What if you need to make an insurance claim?

If you’re involved in a covered railway accident or incident, you’ll need to contact the relevant insurer and follow its claims process. Keep your ticket, insurance details, medical records and any other evidence relating to the incident. If your claim is rejected or delayed, ask the insurer for a written explanation. You can then use its complaints process and, where appropriate, escalate the matter through the insurance regulator’s grievance system.

A small change that could make a big difference

Travel insurance won’t prevent an accident, but it could provide valuable financial support if something goes wrong. The new ruling means that buying your ticket at a station should no longer leave you without access to the insurance protection available to online passengers.

Before your next journey, check how the new arrangements apply to your ticket. A small additional cost could give you and your family important protection.

If you have any thoughts on this topic, or any other consumer issues you would like us to cover, feel free to get in touch with us at support@resolver.co.uk 

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