Now, book your party coach online

Thiruvananthapuram: The Indian Railways has simplified procedures for booking of coaches in trains for special occasions like a marriage party or a religious tour. Such tickets can be booked online now. The online booking had been introduced on a pilot basis from stations on the Western Railways, the notification issued by the Railways said. Soon this would be introduced in other zones including the Southern Railways under which the state falls. 

Till now, the party concerned had to visit the chief booking supervisor or station master of the station from where the journey would commence. The person would have to also give a written request containing journey details for full tariff rate (FTR) for such booking, sources said.    However, the Railways has introduced a charge of five per cent of the total fare and a 30 per cent service charge on such bookings. The railways have also introduced a fixed security deposit of Rs 50,000 per coach. In case of special trains, the person would be charged for a minimum of 18 coaches. The entire transaction in the new online system will have to be digital.

Such booking of special trains, coaches, saloons on full tariff rate (FTR) can be done through a single window booking system of the Indian Railway Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC) The FTR registration can be done a maximum of six months in advance and minimum of 30 days prior to the journey date. Those who book the journey will have to provide the booking type, journey details of coaches, and route. After submission of the request, they will get a reference number on paying a registration amount.  The amount should be paid within six days.