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While traveling on the vast network of Indian Railways, sometimes unexpected incidents happen to the passengers. Falling asleep at night, getting down on the platform to get water or snacks and the train suddenly starts moving, or catching a train in the wrong direction at a junction station—these are mistakes that any alert traveler can make. As soon as the passenger realizes that his luggage, family or valid reserved seat has overtaken the train and he is standing alone at an unknown station, the first thing that sets in his mind is panic and the fear of heavy fine.
Most passengers are not aware that there are already special and humanitarian provisions for such cases in the Indian Railway Commercial Code. If a passenger is left at a wrong station due to his genuine mistake or carelessness, the Railways does not consider him as an unclaimed or ticketed passenger. For this, there is a legal system to issue ‘Free Return Journey Pass’, through which the passenger can safely reach his destination or the right route without paying any extra fare or penalty.
According to railway rules, when a passenger holding a valid reserved ticket goes beyond his scheduled destination station or misses his train after getting down by mistake at any intermediate station en route, he can approach the station master and seek assistance. In railway language, this is called ‘over-carrying’ or reaching the wrong station inadvertently.
In this situation the Station Master checks the original ticket, identity card and actual status of the passenger. When satisfied the railway authority issues an official ‘Free Return Certificate’ or pass to the passenger. This pass entitles the passenger to travel free of cost from the wrong station to either his or her original destination station, or to the originating station from where he or she can catch the correct train. Under this, the passenger is allowed to travel in the next available train without purchasing a new ticket.
If such a situation ever happens to you, then first of all, without wasting any time, instead of going out of the platform, go straight to the office of the ‘Station Master’ (SM) or ‘Station Superintendent’ (SS) of that station. The safest step is to reach the administrative office directly instead of dealing with any unauthorized person or TTE. Go there and show your original ticket to the station master (be it e-ticket in mobile or UTS/PRS ticket at the counter) and explain the entire situation.
The Station Master checks the PNR record of the passenger and checks in the system that the concerned train has actually passed that station. He then issues a formal return memo bearing the official seal of the station, signature of the station master, train number and permission for that route. With this memo, you can legally travel in sleeper or unreserved (General) coach of the next available train, and the ticket checking staff on the way cannot collect any penalty from you.
If you have missed your train and your valuables, bags or other family members have moved ahead in the same coach, instead of panicking, immediately inform the station master about the coach and berth number. Internal security and coordination system of Railways gets activated immediately in such cases. The Station Master immediately informs the concerned TTE, Train Conductor and Railway Protection Force (RPF) on duty in the train through wireless message or phone call.
Along with this, a message is also sent to the station master of the next stoppage of the train. TTE goes to the seat indicated by you and keeps your luggage safe in its custody or deposits it at the RPF post at the next major junction. If the family members are in the train, TTE reassures them by informing them about the departure of the passenger and arrival by the next train, due to which the family members also do not have to face any kind of stress.
This facility has been created purely on human basis to correct the genuine mistake, hence it is mandatory to follow some important conditions while availing its benefit. The first condition is that the passenger must have a valid original ticket for that route. Passengers traveling without tickets or deliberately traveling on wrong routes do not get this relief; On the contrary, heavy fine can be imposed on them under Section 138 of Traveling Without Ticket.
Secondly, it is necessary to contact the station master immediately as soon as the train leaves. If you leave the station and return several hours later to make a claim, the Railways may consider it suspicious and refuse to issue the pass. Thirdly, the important thing is that the free return pass is generally valid for travel in the same class or sleeper/general class which is vacant in the next available ordinary train. So be aware, use the railway helpline 139 and use your legal rights properly in times of crisis.