Railway Tourism Packages
Railway Tourism Packages
Overview
Indian Railways, through its subsidiary IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation), operates a bouquet of all-inclusive tourist trains, cruise-on-wheels and Bharat Gaurav (theme-based) services that combine transport, accommodation, catering and sight-seeing in one ticket. These packages are marketed as “Rail Tour Packages” (RTPs) and are available in Deluxe, Standard and Budget categories covering UNESCO sites, pilgrimages, wildlife circuits, hill stations, deserts and coastal belts.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First tourist train of India | Palace on Wheels (Jan 1986, Delhi–Rajasthan circuit) |
| Present premium luxury trains | 5 (PoW, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot, Maharajas’ Express, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels) |
| Bharat Gaurav trains launched | Nov 2021 (policy-based, private operators) |
| Maximum duration of a tourist package | 18 nights / 19 days (Bharat Darshan–Ramayan Yatra) |
| Online booking portal | www.irctc.com → “Rail Tour Packages” tab |
| Dedicated tourist rail coach factory | Kapurthala (Punjab) – also retrofits vintage salon coaches |
| Luxury rake speed limit | 110 km/h (with CBC coupling & air-suspension) |
| Tourist train crew ratio | 1:2 (guest : service staff) for luxury trains |
| Average occupancy target | ≥ 70 % (set by IRCTC) |
| GST on luxury train tickets | 12 % (full input credit allowed to operators) |
| Insurance cover per passenger | ₹ 10 lakh (under Bhartiya Rail Bima) |
| Foreign exchange earner ranking | IRCTC tourism 3rd after Taj Hotels & Kerala Tourism |
| Highest selling pilgrimage package | “Bharat Darshan” (₹ 10–12 k, 12-day all-India) |
| Eco-certification | Golden Chariot – first Indian train with Green Globe certification |
| IRCTC profit from tourism (FY 2022-23) | ₹ 455 crore (28 % of total profit) |
| Charter hire policy announced | 2020-21 (min 7 coaches, 90-day advance notice) |
Important Points
- Tourist trains are classified as “Non-Fare Revenue” assets of Indian Railways.
- Fare includes: travel, night stay on train, morning bed-tea, breakfast, lunch, dinner, site travel by AC bus, guide & monument entry.
- Dynamic pricing is allowed on luxury trains; Bharat Gaurav trains follow fixed tariff.
- All tourist rakes have pantry cars with onboard pure-veg kitchens (no private catering).
- Security: each coach has 24×7 guard, CCTV & electronic safes; lady attendant provided for women-only tours.
- Operators must maintain a minimum 4-star equivalent hospitality standard (MoT guideline 2022).
- IRCTC shares 20 % gross revenue with Indian Railways for haulage, path & stabling.
- Maximum permissible group size per departure is 144 passengers (12 coaches × 12 berths).
- Tourist trains get priority path after Rajdhani/Shatabdi but before ordinary Mail/Express.
- Free Wi-Fi, live TV and infotainment are mandatory in all AC tourist coaches since 2020.
- Heritage saloons can be attached to tourist trains on prior request (₹ 35 k/day).
- Medical: doctor-on-call & first-aid available; tie-up with local hospitals at every halt.
- Refund rule: 5 % deduction up to 15 days, 25 % 7-14 days, 50 % <7 days, 0 % <2 days.
- IRCTC also sells “Land Cruise” packages—same itinerary but passengers stay in hotels instead of train.
- Tourist trains are the only Indian Railways services exempted from dynamic “Surge” festival pricing.
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Name India’s first and latest luxury tourist trains.
- Revenue-sharing percentage between IRCTC and Indian Railways for tourist trains.
- Which train received the Green Globe certification and why?
- Difference between Bharat Gaurav and regular IRCTC tourist trains.
- Maximum permissible occupancy of coaches in tourist trains.
BETA
