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Now you can book Railway Coaches for Marriage Party, Religious Tour online on IRCTC Portal

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NEW DELHI: Need coaches for a marriage party or a religious tour? Now, it can be done online, according to instructions issued by the railway board. According to a circular by the Railway Board, booking of special trains, coaches, saloons on full tariff rate (FTR) shall now be booked through a “single window booking system” of the Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC).

“Henceforth, any individual or party seeking to book trains/coaches on FTR shall approach the IRCTC and it will book trains/coaches online on behalf of the individual or party”, stated the circular issued earlier this month.

Currently, to book such coaches or trains, the concerned party had to go to the chief booking supervisor or station master of the station from where the journey would commence and provide a written request containing journey details for FTR booking.

After depositing the money, they would be given a receipt with a unique FTR number printed on it. The process was cumbersome, officials said, which necessitated the change.

Mostly special trains or coaches were booked by travel agencies taking parties for religious tours, by MNCs taking employees for trips, schools booking for educational tours and even individuals travelling with a large contingent, officials said.

However, now, a charge of five percent on the total fare shall be levied, over and above a 30 percent service charge on such bookings.

The railway has fixed a security deposit of Rs 50,000 per coach and for special trains a minimum of 18 coaches will be charged. The entire transaction in the new online system will have to be digital, the board has said.

Yes, Indian Railways has now enabled online booking of full railway coaches and trains for purposes like marriage parties, religious tours, corporate events, and group travel directly through the IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) portal.

🚆 Key Highlights of the New Service:

  1. Online Booking Platform:
    • Available via:
    • Users can book full coaches or even entire trains for private use.
  2. Who Can Use It?
    • Individuals or organizations planning:
      • Marriage parties
      • Pilgrimage or religious tours
      • Educational or corporate group travel
      • Tourist packages
  3. Types of Coaches/Trains Available:
    • AC and Non-AC coaches
    • Sleeper, Chair Car, and other classes
    • Parcel vans and saloons (on request and availability)
  4. Booking Procedure:
    • Visit the IRCTC portal → Go to “FTR (Full Tariff Rate) Booking”
    • Register online → Submit journey details
    • Make advance payment (refundable after final cost adjustment)
    • Receive confirmation and coach/train allotment
  5. Security & Cancellation:
    • Refund policies and security deposit requirements are detailed on the portal.
    • Bookings must usually be made at least 30 days in advance.
  6. Advantages:
    • Fully digital, eliminating the need to visit railway offices
    • Transparent pricing and simplified procedures
    • Ideal for large groups and customized travel

📝 Additional Notes:

  • The facility is part of the Railways’ initiative to monetize under-utilized assets and offer personalized travel experiences.
  • This also aligns with India’s growing demand for destination weddings and pilgrimage tourism.

Would you like a step-by-step guide on how to make a booking, or details about pricing and policies?

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