Excited for the family vacation planned for the month of Chhath Puja or Diwali? The "Round Trip Package" is an experimental program of the Indian Railways meant to alleviate travel problems. This program, initiated by the Ministry of Railways, aims to alleviate congestion during the holiday season and facilitate easier ticket purchasing. Improved bidirectional and special train utilisation is another goal of the plan, which aims to spread out peak passenger traffic over a longer time frame.
What is the Railway's new scheme all about?
For trips departing on October 13 and ending on October 26, as well as those returning on November 17 and departing on December 1, customers may purchase round-trip tickets beginning on August 14. As long as the same group of people, fare class, and origin-destination pair purchase both legs of the trip at the same time, the program will provide a 20% discount on the base cost. You can't qualify until you book your tickets using the same method (online or at a reservation counter) and confirm them for both trips. Trains with flexi fares are not eligible for this plan, and no changes or refunds will be permitted. All classes, including special trains, are covered under the system.
Reducing congestion, ensuring hassle-free travel, and optimising train capacity during a seasonal rush are the goals of this experimental initiative, according to the Railway Board. Additionally, it promotes pre-trip planning among travellers, which helps equally distribute traffic throughout the year. One of the year's peak travel periods occurs during the holiday season, so this is definitely a welcome move!
Why is this move by the Indian Railways being celebrated?
- Make key intersections less crowded
- Expand the number of available berths to accommodate passengers who made last-minute reservations
- A more seamless flow is guaranteed on busy days.
- Make travel safer and easier
- Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of railways, has said that this is all part of a larger strategy to facilitate easier and more accessible travel during holidays.
Things to know about the Railways’ new scheme
- Delhi to Gaya, Saharsa to Amritsar, Chhapra to Delhi, and Muzaffarpur to Hyderabad are among the destinations that these trains will serve.
- The onward ticket must be purchased first for the train start date between October 13, 2025, and October 26, 2025. Then, for the train start date between November 17, 2025, and December 1, 2025, the return journey ticket must be purchased using the connecting journey feature.
- The return travel cannot be booked within the reservation period (ARP) of October 13–26. When the same group of passengers book both the outbound and incoming flights via this arrangement, they will both be eligible for refunds.
- The information for the passengers on the way back will be identical to that for the trip ahead.
- Only confirmed tickets in both directions may be booked as mentioned above. According to the Ministry, a total of 20% might be refunded on the basic rate of a return voyage.
- Bookings made under this system must be for the same class and use the same origin-destination combination for both the outbound and incoming journeys, as mentioned.
- Tickets purchased via this program are non-refundable.
How do I book these tickets?
- Click the "Book Return Journey (20% Discount)" or "Book Return Journey (Discounted)" button on the Booking Confirmation Page (BOOKING DETAILS) of your subsequent travel to proceed with your reservation or to see further details. After you've made your first reservation, go to MY BOOKINGS and choose the PNR for your subsequent travel.
- The "Book Return Journey (20% Discount)" or "Book Return Journey (Discounted)" button, as well as a link to the relevant Terms & Conditions, may be found on the TICKET DETAILS page, which will be opened after this. Click on this button to go forward.
- The specifics of the plan, as well as the Terms & Conditions, will be shown. If you would like to proceed with the reservation under this program, please read the details thoroughly and then confirm.
- The return journey's starting and ending stations are fixed and cannot be modified after you've chosen them.
- Restrict your search to trains departing from and returning to a certain date between November 17, 2025, and December 1, 2025. The departure dates of the train from its respective stations are shown by these dates.
- The reduced cost, which is a 20% refund on the basic ticket for the return voyage, will be shown when you choose your desired class.
- Select your preferred train and class (excluding Flexi/Dynamic price trains), and go forward with the booking only if the "CNF/Confirmed Availability" option is available for your return trip within the given timeframe.
- The data supplied during the onwards travel booking must match perfectly with the passenger details in order to access the plan. After you've double-checked your itinerary and reduced price, you may hit the "Proceed to Pay" button.
- A PNR will be created for the return travel after the payment is successfully processed.
Best practices when travelling during a busy time
- Keep a digital copy of your legitimate identification with you at all times.
- Snacks, water, and chargers should be kept in a light bag.
- To beat the crowds, get there early.
- To make boarding easier, use DigiYatra or the station applications.
- Get lower berths if you're travelling with little ones or elderly people.