If you’re travelling by train, you likely book your tickets online. However, did you know that online train tickets are more expensive than those purchased offline at the counter? Why do we end up paying two different prices for the same train ticket? Are there any special services provided to passengers who book online?

The government responded to this question in the Rajya Sabha, explaining that passengers who book tickets online through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website are charged a convenience fee and a transaction charge. This is why online ticket prices are higher compared to those bought directly from the railway counter.
When Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raised a question about the difference in IRCTC ticket pricing, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav clarified that IRCTC incurs significant expenses to provide the online ticketing facility. To mitigate the cost of maintaining and upgrading the ticketing infrastructure, IRCTC levies a convenience fee. Ashwini Vaishnav added that bank transaction charges also contribute to the higher cost.

Vaishnav emphasised that IRCTC’s online ticket booking facility is one of the most passenger-friendly initiatives of Indian Railways. Currently, more than 80 per cent of reserved tickets are booked online.

He stated that the IRCTC provides the facility of booking reserved tickets online. This has relieved passengers from the hassle of physically visiting reservation counters, saving them travel time and transportation costs.