Be it the wedding season, hundreds of people going together on a religious trip or a large team of an organization having to travel by the same train, then the biggest challenge is to arrange tickets for everyone together. Generally people believe that Indian Railways has the facility of only general ticket or group booking, but very few people know that if needed, Railways provides the facility to book not only the entire coach but even the entire train. That means, if there are 300, 500 or more people in your marriage procession, then you can book a special coach or an entire special train from the Railways.
This is the reason why every year many wedding processions, religious tours, school-college tours and large groups of social organizations take advantage of this facility. However, for this there are some fixed rules of Railways, security deposit, fare and application process, which are necessary to be followed. This facility of Indian Railways is called Full Tariff Rate (FTR). This facility is mainly designed for those who have to travel with a large number of passengers at the same time.
According to railway rules, an interested person or organization can reserve the entire train or some coaches, but for this one has to apply in advance and deposit the prescribed fee. In recent times, this facility was also discussed on social media, because many people came to know for the first time that marriage procession can also be taken by train. Railway officials say that this facility is not new, but has been in place for many years. The only requirement is that the passengers should apply in time and fulfill the conditions of the Railways.
In all these cases, it may be more convenient to book the coach or the entire train together instead of booking separate tickets.
Railways' FTR facility (Getty Image)
The process of booking the entire train or coach is done through the FTR (Full Tariff Rate) portal of IRCTC. After the application, Railways checks the availability and operational status and gives approval. If the booking is canceled for any reason, whether by the passenger or by the Railways, refund is given as per FTR rules and applicable cancellation charges. The refund process is completed through the Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) of the Railways. Registration fees, fares, eligibility, booking process and cancellation rules may change from time to time. Therefore, before applying, please check the latest information from the official FTR portal of IRCTC or Indian Railways.
The fare for booking an entire coach or train in Railways is not fixed like a normal ticket. It depends on how many coaches are being booked, how long is the journey, which route the train will run, whether the coaches are sleepers or AC and how long the train will be used. Depending on all these things, the cost of each booking varies. Railways first tells the estimated fare and payment has to be made accordingly.
As per current railway rules, a registration amount of Rs 50,000 has to be deposited to book a coach (for journey up to 7 days). At the same time, to book the entire train, a registration amount of at least Rs 9 lakh has to be paid, which is calculated on the basis of minimum 18 coaches. Additional charges may also apply in some cases.
According to the FTR rules of Indian Railways, booking of the entire train or coach can be done maximum 6 months before the date of journey. At the same time, it is necessary to apply at least 30 days in advance. Therefore, if you are planning a wedding procession, religious journey or traveling with a large group, it is better to apply well in time. Mere application or registration does not guarantee getting a train or coach. Railways gives approval only after examining the operational status and availability. Apart from this, the total cost of booking may vary depending on the route of journey, distance, duration and number of coaches.
What things should be kept in mind? (Getty Image)
Yes, under the FTR rules of Railways, the entire train can also be booked depending on the need and availability. However, for this the number of passengers, route, time and operating schedule of the railways are kept in mind. Booking of entire trains is usually done for large religious events, government functions or very large groups. An FTR train can have a maximum of 24 coaches, of which it is mandatory to include 2 SLR (Seating-cum-Luggage Rake) i.e. guard and luggage coaches. At the same time, even if a group requires less than 18 passenger coaches, the fare and fees are still calculated on the basis of at least 18 coaches.
According to railway rules, it is necessary to submit the application on time. It may be difficult to get a coach or train at the last moment. Apart from this, cancellation rules of Railways are applicable on cancellation of booking. During the journey, all passengers have to follow the safety and travel related rules of the Railways. Passengers should also note that FTR facility is subject to availability. That is, if there are not enough coaches or rakes available on the concerned route at that time, then Railways can refuse to give booking.
