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Mint
27-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Top 6 IRCTC credit cards for frequent train travel: Rewards, discounts and more
Do you travel frequently on trains? Then, co-branded credit cards offered by IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) in association with banks will be an ideal choice for booking tickets. IRCTC has joined hands with HDFC Bank, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and RBL Bank for co-branded cards, which offer a host of benefits for frequent train travellers. IRCTC's loyalty scheme allows you to earn 'Travel Points' whenever you book tickets using these co-branded credit cards on the IRCTC e-ticketing portal. These points can be redeemed while booking train tickets. A loyalty user can earn partner points on the purchase of other goods and services. Here are the features and benefits provided by these credit cards. Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 500 Welcome gift voucher worth ₹ 500 on card activation within first 37 days of card issuance Five reward points per ₹ 100 spent on IRCTC tickets on IRCTC ticketing website and 'Rail Connect' app One reward point on every ₹ 100 spent on other categories 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings on IRCTC ticketing website and 'Rail Connect' app Complimentary access to select 'IRCTC Executive Lounges' for up to eight times every year (Two per quarter) One reward point is equal to ₹ 1 for transactions done on IRCTC ticketing website and 'Rail Connect' app Milestone gift voucher of ₹ 500 on quarterly spends of ₹ 30000 Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 500 500 Welcome benefit of 500 reward points Five rewards point on ₹ 200 spent on IRCTC website and 'Rail Connect' app for all classes 200 spent on IRCTC website and 'Rail Connect' app for all classes Two reward points on ₹ 200 spent on on Flight/Hotel/Cruise Ticket Booking 200 spent on on Flight/Hotel/Cruise Ticket Booking 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings Complimentary access to select IRCTC lounges for up to eight times every year (Two per quarter) 'Train Cancellation Protect' feature of up to ₹ 5000 5000 The complimentary protection coverage for train cancellation of up to ₹ 5000 will be applicable only on the trains cancelled by the Indian Railways within 24 hours or less, from the date of the journey and the scheduled train time. Terms and conditions may be revised as required by the RBL Bank at its own discretion. 5000 will be applicable only on the trains cancelled by the Indian Railways within 24 hours or less, from the date of the journey and the scheduled train time. Terms and conditions may be revised as required by the RBL Bank at its own discretion. Two reward points for ₹ 200 spent on booking flights, hotels and cruises from the IRCTC website or app. 200 spent on booking flights, hotels and cruises from the IRCTC website or app. Three reward points on ₹ 200 spent on FASTAG Recharge/NCMC Reload/UTS App 200 spent on FASTAG Recharge/NCMC Reload/UTS App One reward point on every ₹ 200 spent on other categories 200 spent on other categories 'Tap and Transit' for rides on metros and bus stations Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 500/ ₹ 300 Welcome benefit of 500 bonus reward points Up to 40 BOBCARD reward points for every ₹ 100 spent on IRCTC tickets 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings Complimentary access to select railway lounges for up to four times every year (One per quarter) Up to four reward points on every ₹ 100 spent on other categories Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 1499 1499 Welcome benefit of 1500 bonus reward points Ten reward points per ₹ 100 spent on IRCTC tickets 100 spent on IRCTC tickets Five reward Points per ₹ 100 spent on air tickets and e-catering 100 spent on air tickets and e-catering 1% transaction charge waiver on rail and air bookings Complimentary access to select railway lounges for up to eight times every year (Two per quarter) Three reward points per ₹ 125 spent on dining and standing instructions on utility spends 125 spent on dining and standing instructions on utility spends One reward point on regular spends of ₹ 125 Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 500/ ₹ 300 Welcome benefit of 350 bonus reward points on credit card activation Up to ten reward points per ₹ 100 spent on IRCTC tickets 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings One reward point on regular spends of ₹ 125 Complimentary access to select railway lounges for up to four times every year (One per quarter) Joining/Renewal Fee of ₹ 500/ ₹ 300 500/ 300 Welcome benefit of 350 bonus reward points on card activation Up to ten reward points per ₹ 100 spent on IRCTC tickets 100 spent on IRCTC tickets 1% transaction charge waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings Complimentary access to select railway lounges for up to four times every year (One per quarter) One reward point on regular spends of ₹ 125 Allirajan M is a journalist with over two decades of experience. He has worked with several leading media organisations in the country and has been writing on mutual funds for nearly 16 years.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
Partially confirmed train ticket: Can you travel on a ticket with 2 confirmed and 2 waiting list passengers?
The Indian Railways has introduced strict vigil measures against those who are travelling in the Railways with improper tickets. To be more specific, an improper ticket means you are travelling in the wrong coach (bogie) of the train, but the ticket itself is valid for travel. It's like saying you have four relatives travelling to Dehradun from Delhi but due to heavy demand, only two of your tickets are confirmed, the other two were put in the 'waiting list' category. #Operation Sindoor From crossfire to calm: What India, Pakistan Army chiefs said on the hotline Did China send a cargo plane with military supplies to Pakistan? India-Pakistan tension: Exodus of migrant workers takes a toll on industry From May 1, 2025, if you face such a situation (partially confirmed and partially waitlisted ticket) only people with confirmed ticket will be allowed to travel. The remaining people with a waitlisted ticket won't be allowed to travel even in sleeper class or any of the AC coaches (3E, 3AC, 2AC, etc). If you don't follow this new rule, then the TTE is empowered to impose a heavy fine on you in violation of Section 155 of the Railways Act, 1989. Read below to know what you can do in such a situation where half of your group got confirmed tickets, but the other half is still on the waiting list. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm What are your options? To reiterate the situation, you booked four Railway travel tickets, but only two tickets were confirmed, the other two were put in the waiting list category. Sonal Alagh, Partner, Alagh & Kapoor Law Offices, shares the solution to this problem where you are on a waitlist ticket and neither got confirmation nor RAC even after the preparation of the chart. Live Events Alagh says: 'If an online ticket remains fully waitlisted even after final chart preparation, the IRCTC system automatically cancels it and refunds the fare, as per Rule 213-A of the Indian Railways Refund Rules, 2015, read with the IRCTC policy update. No physical cancellation is needed by the passengers. However, if a waitlisted passenger still wishes to travel, they must purchase a fresh Unreserved (General) class ticket, which is available either at station counters or through the UTS mobile app. Entry into general compartments without a valid general ticket constitutes unauthorised travel and is punishable under Section 137 of the Railways Act, 1989, which may include fine or imprisonment.' This means the persons who are on the waitlist ticket even after preparation of the chart need to separately purchase (online through UTS App or offline) a general compartment ticket. The above shared solution is not required in cases where the waitlist ticket is converted into an RAC ticket by the Indian Railways. To give you a brief background on waitlist tickets, usually they are confirmed at the time of chart preparation or put into RAC (reservation against cancellation). However, if there is a heavy demand for the train tickets, waitlist tickets do not get confirmed or get RAC, instead they are cancelled. In RAC, you pay the full price of the ticket, but you need to share your berth with another passenger. Also read: IRCTC bans waiting list passengers from Sleeper and AC travel starting May 1, 2025 IRCTC Waitlist ticket refund rules for offline and online purchased tickets Since a railway ticket can be bought from the station reservation counter (offline) and also from the IRCTC website/app (online) the process for getting refund for waiting list tickets which are not confirmed till the time of preparation of the chart differs. Here's the process: For online tickets: According to IRCTC website, 'In case of wait-listed e-tickets on which all the passengers are on waiting list even after preparation of reservation chart, names of all such passengers booked on that Passenger Name Record (PNR) will be dropped from the reservation chart and refund of full fare will be credited automatically back to the account, from which booking transaction took place, without deducting any cancellation charges.' For offline tickets: According to a report by the Economic Times which quoted PTI, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on March 25, 2025: "Waitlisted PRS counter ticket shall be cancelled across the reservation counter on surrendering of the original PRS counter ticket as per time limit prescribed in Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fares) Rules 2015. However, in normal circumstances, cancellation of PRS counter ticket can also be done online through IRCTC website or through 139 within the prescribed time limit as per Railway Passengers (Cancellation of Tickets and Refund of Fares) Rules 2015 and refund amount shall be collected by surrendering original PRS counter ticket across the reservation counters as per instructions issued from time to time.' What is the reason behind this solution? This is not the best solution since the general compartment in a train is not as luxurious as AC compartments, but given the bad situation (4 tickets booked but only2confirmed) it is a better alternative. The other alternative is to cancel the entire train trip. Ashish Yadav, Senior Associate, TAS LAW, says, the Indian Railways took this decision after widespread complaints and instances often seen in viral videos and photos circulated on social media wherein in many instances, passengers with confirmed tickets struggled to claim their seats due to overcrowding and unauthorised occupancy by waiting list passengers. 'Hence the reason why effective from May 1, the TTE has provided the power to ask waiting list passengers to deboard at the next station if travelling in reserved AC or Sleeper compartments,' says Yadav. Alagh says, 'Under the revised Indian Railways regulations effective May 1, 2025, waitlisted passengers are strictly prohibited from traveling in reserved compartments such as Sleeper and AC coaches, even if accompanying friends with confirmed tickets. This is in accordance with the Indian Railways Commercial Manual (Vol. I, Para 603) which outlines the requirement of a valid reservation for entry into reserved coaches.' Punit Bhansali, Associate, MVAC Advocates & Solicitors, says: As per the new regulations, the waiting list passengers cannot travel without a valid ticket in the reserved coaches. Consequently, if any passenger is found travelling without a valid ticket a fine of Rs 250 for Sleeper coach and Rs 440 for AC coach will be charged. Additionally, the passenger will also be charged the fare from the boarding point to the next station and will be disembarked from the coach. If a waiting e-ticket remains unconfirmed after the final chart preparation, it will be automatically cancelled, and a refund will be processed to the passenger's account. As such, if the passenger wishes to travel in the unreserved/ general coach, the passenger has to purchase a separate unreserved ticket. Holding a cancelled waiting ticket does not grant the right to travel in any coach; a valid unreserved ticket is required to board unreserved/ general coaches."
