Indian Railways offers special ticket for multi-city trips with stopover options

August 9, 06:57

If you are planning a train journey and wish to visit several cities in one trip, the special service offered by Indian Railways can assist you. This service is called the 'Circular Journey Ticket'. With this ticket, travel can be made across multiple locations on a predetermined route, eliminating the need to purchase separate tickets for each city. According to Indian Railways, this option is particularly useful for pilgrimage and tourist journeys. Furthermore, the journey starts and ends at the same station.

What is the 'Circular Journey Ticket'?

Imagine starting your journey from Delhi. You want to stop in cities such as Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad, and then return to Delhi. Instead of buying individual tickets for each segment of the route, you can utilize the 'Circular Journey Ticket' service, provided your planned itinerary meets the criteria for such a ticket.

The entire travel route is determined in advance. The railway sets the cost and validity period of the ticket based on this route. This ticket allows travel across different segments and makes stops along the way.

How many places can be visited with one ticket?

The main feature of the 'Circular Journey Ticket' is that it permits stops at a maximum of 8 locations. This means you can stop in several cities along the way and then continue your journey. It is important to remember that this differs from a regular one-way ticket. For the 'Circular Journey Ticket', the entire route must be pre-approved.

How is the ticket cost determined?

One advantage of this ticket is its connection to fares. The railway applies what is known as a 'telescopic fare'. Simply put, the cost of a long-distance journey might be lower than purchasing regular tickets from point A to point B. According to the railway, the 'Circular Journey Ticket' cost is calculated based on two separate journeys, with the total distance divided into two parts. However, additional charges may apply related to different trains, classes, and other aspects of the journey. This is why this service can be beneficial for someone planning a long trip across multiple cities.

Does the ticket include a seat?

Purchasing a 'Circular Journey Ticket' does not automatically reserve a seat on all trains throughout the entire journey. First, the 'Circular Journey Ticket' itself is purchased, and then reservations for seats or compartments must be made for different parts of the journey using a reservation ticket. That is, the ticket covers your entire trip, but a separate booking procedure may be required for the train where a reserved seat is necessary.

How to obtain such a ticket?

First, you need to create a detailed plan of your trip. You must decide where the journey will start, which cities you need to stop in, and where you will return at the end. After that, you can contact the relevant officials of the railway department responsible for that station. The railway will calculate the cost and details of the 'Circular Journey Ticket' according to your route. Then, the ticket can be purchased at the sales office based on this procedure. Subsequently, reservations are made for individual segments as needed.

There is also a standard 'Circular Journey Ticket'

The railway also offers standard 'Circular Journey Tickets' for popular tourist and pilgrimage destinations. Their routes are pre-set. If the standard route matches your travel plan, it can be used. If your route differs, you can provide the railway with a complete travel plan so they can prepare a 'Circular Journey Ticket' according to your wishes.

How long is the ticket valid?

The validity period of this ticket is determined by the total length of your journey and the number of intermediate stops. According to railway rules, the number of travel days and stopover days is summed up considering the distance. The journey begins on the date specified on the ticket and must be completed within the established validity period.

Who benefits most from this?

The 'Circular Journey Ticket' can be especially useful for those who want to visit many cities in one trip. For example, it may be advantageous for long family trips, pilgrimages, or travels across multiple states. This reduces the hassle of buying separate tickets for each stop, and thanks to the telescopic fare, it can lead to savings on a long journey. However, the actual savings will depend on your route, train type, class, and other applicable charges.

www.aajtak.inAugust 1, 11:49

Railway Rules: When a Seat on a Train Can Be Cancelled Even With a Confirmed Ticket

Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, transporting millions of passengers daily. Various rules have been developed to ensure traveler convenience and efficient use of seats, which every passenger should know. According to Indian Railways rules, having a confirmed ticket usually implies that the seat belongs only to you throughout the entire journey. However, there is a rule that few people know: under certain circumstances, your seat may be given to another passenger.

This happens if a passenger does not board the train at their original boarding station and fails to inform the railway about it. In such cases, the Ticket Examiner (TTE) has the right, according to the rules, to allocate this seat to another suitable passenger. Next, we will examine in detail how this rule works, in which situations the seat might be occupied by someone else, and what should be done to avoid this.

According to Indian Railways rules, if a passenger's ticket is confirmed, but they do not board the train at the designated departure station and do not board within the next two stations, the TTE may consider the seat vacant. Subsequently, if there is a waiting list passenger, an RAC passenger, or any other suitable passenger awaiting a seat on the train, the TTE may allocate this seat to them in accordance with the rules. Thus, a confirmed ticket alone is not enough; timely boarding is also crucial.

Millions of passengers use the services of Indian Railways every day. Sometimes passengers book tickets but do not travel for some reason. On the other hand, many travel with waiting list or RAC tickets. If vacant seats are not utilized, it will lead to resource wastage and cause inconvenience to needy passengers. This is why the railway introduced this system to utilize vacant seats to provide convenience to other passengers.

Suppose your boarding station is New Delhi, but for some reason, you wish to board the train at the next station, such as Ghaziabad or Aligarh. In this situation, missing the train from the first station without notification can be disadvantageous for you. In this scenario, you must change your boarding station before the journey begins. Passengers can change their boarding station within the stipulated time through the IRCTC service before the train departs. By doing so, you will retain your seat, and the railway will know from which station you will board the train.

Sometimes a passenger fails to reach the boarding station due to traffic jams, flight delays, or missing a bus. In such a situation, it is better not to remain silent but to take immediate action. If possible, contact the TTE or report your situation through the railway's hotline. Nevertheless, the final decision is made by the TTE and in accordance with the current railway rules. Therefore, it is always best to notify them in advance.

Missing the train only at the first station does not automatically mean your ticket is cancelled. However, if you have not changed your boarding station, have not informed them of your intention to board the train, and have not started traveling even at the next two stations, the TTE may consider the seat vacant and allocate it to another suitable passenger. Consequently, even with a ticket in your name, you have no guarantee of retaining the seat.

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Indian Railways offers special ticket for multi-city trips with stopover options

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