Indian Railways has announced a 20% discount on return train tickets under a new ‘Round Trip Package’ scheme. This special initiative aims to make travel easier during the upcoming festival season, reduce passenger rush, and improve train utilisation in both directions. 🚂
The Round Trip Package is being launched as an experimental scheme. This is to encourage passengers to book both their onward and return journeys in advance – and at a lower cost.
Why is Indian Railways Introducing This Scheme?
Festival seasons in India often see a massive rush for train tickets. This leads to sold-out seats, last-minute ticket struggles, and overcrowded trains in one direction, while return journeys may have vacant seats.
To tackle this, the Ministry of Railways has introduced the Round Trip Package to:
- Evenly distribute passenger traffic
- Streamline the booking process
- Ensure better utilisation of trains (including special trains) both ways
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Key Features of the Round Trip Package
Here’s how the scheme works:
- 20% Discount – Passengers will get a flat 20% rebate on the base fare of the return journey only.
- Same Passenger Details – Both onward & return tickets must be for the same set of passengers.
- Same Class & Route – The journey must be in the same class and for the same origin–destination pair in both directions.
- Confirmed Tickets Only – The offer is valid only for confirmed tickets in both directions.
- Applicable on All Trains (Except Flexi Fare) – Valid for all classes and trains, including special trains, but excludes trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto that have flexi fares.
- No Refunds or Modifications – Once booked, these tickets cannot be refunded or modified.
- Same Mode of Booking – Both tickets must be booked either online or at the railway reservation counter.
Travel Dates & Booking Period 📅
- Booking Start Date: 14 August 2025
- Onward Journey Dates: 13 October 2025 – 26 October 2025
- Return Journey Dates: 17 November 2025 – 1 December 2025
📌 Note: The Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of 13 October – 26 October is only for onward journeys. Return journeys can be booked outside this ARP window.
How to Avail the Discount 👇
- Book the onward ticket first for your travel between 13-26 October 2025.
- Book the return ticket using the “Connecting Journey” feature for your travel between 17 November – 1 December 2025.
- Make sure both bookings are done in the same mode (online or counter).
Who Benefits from This Scheme?
The scheme is perfect for:
- People travelling home for Diwali and Chhath Puja and returning after the festivities
- Families planning festive season vacations
- Passengers looking to save money on round-trip journeys
Final Word 🚂
The Round Trip Package from Indian Railways is a smart move to help passengers save money and avoid festive season ticket hassles. With a 20% discount on return tickets and confirmed seats in both directions, it’s a win-win for both travellers and the railways.
So, if you’re planning to travel this festive season, book your onward and return tickets together starting 14 August 2025 and enjoy the savings! 🚆✨
Book your train tickets now on Paytm.
