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.
Practice MCQs
Question:01 India’s first luxury tourist train “Palace on Wheels” was flagged off in
A) January 1982
B) January 1984
C) January 1986
D) January 1988
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Palace on Wheels, India’s pioneering luxury tourist train, began its inaugural journey in January 1986, offering heritage rail travel across Rajasthan and Agra.
Question:02 Which of the following is NOT a luxury tourist train operated by IRCTC?
A) Deccan Odyssey
B) Golden Chariot
C) Vande Bharat Express
D) Maharajas’ Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Vande Bharat Express is a high-speed inter-city EMU service, not a luxury tourist train like the Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot, or Maharajas’ Express.
Question:03 What is the minimum number of coaches that can be chartered under IRCTC’s 2026 tourist train policy?
A) 5
B) 7
C) 10
D) 12
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: As per the revised IRCTC tourist train policy effective from 2026, a minimum of 7 coaches must be chartered to form a tourist train service.
Question:04 Bharat Gaurav trains were introduced primarily to promote
A) Export of rail coaches
B) Theme-based tourism by private operators
C) Freight tourism
D) Bullet trains
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Bharat Gaurav trains are theme-based tourist services run by private operators to showcase India’s cultural heritage and tourist circuits.
Question:05 The revenue share that IRCTC pays to Indian Railways from gross tourist train earnings is
A) 10 %
B) 15 %
C) 20 %
D) 25 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: IRCTC remits 20 % of the gross earnings from tourist train operations to Indian Railways as its revenue share.
Question:06 Which tourist train has been certified as India’s first Green Globe train?
A) Palace on Wheels
B) Deccan Odyssey
C) Golden Chariot
D) Maharajas’ Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Golden Chariot, operating in Karnataka and Goa, became India’s first tourist train to receive the Green Globe certification for its sustainable tourism practices.
Question:07 The maximum duration of the “Bharat Darshan” Ramayan Yatra package is
A) 10 days
B) 12 days
C) 15 days
D) 19 days
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers the “Bharat Darshan” Ramayan Yatra with a maximum itinerary length of 19 days, covering major Ramayana circuit destinations.
Question:08 What is the amount of free travel insurance cover provided to each passenger on a tourist train?
A) ₹ 2 lakh
B) ₹ 5 lakh
C) ₹ 7 lakh
D) ₹ 10 lakh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Indian Railways provides complimentary travel insurance of ₹10 lakh to every passenger travelling on a tourist train.
Question:09 Tourist trains are categorized under which revenue head of Indian Railways?
A) Coaching Revenue
B) Goods Revenue
C) Non-Fare Revenue
D) Sundry Revenue
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Revenue from tourist trains is classified as Non-Fare Revenue because it is generated from value-added services rather than basic passenger fares.
Question:10 Which of the following is the highest-selling low-cost pilgrimage package of IRCTC?
A) Buddhist Circuit Train
B) Bharat Darshan
C) Dakshin Darshan
D) Shri Ramayana Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Bharat Darshan is IRCTC’s most popular budget pilgrimage tour, offering all-inclusive rail journeys to major religious destinations across India at the lowest cost, making it the highest-selling package.
BETA
