Indian Railways offers a Full Tariff Rate (FTR) service, allowing passengers to book an entire train or a coach for special occasions such as marriages, tours, and group travel. However, many passengers may not be aware of this facility or the process involved in booking a dedicated coach or train. Recently, a viral video showed a specially decorated AC coupe for a couple traveling on the Nandigram Express on 6/7/26, but such arrangements are not permitted under the normal ticket-booking process.
The national transporter has initiated an inquiry into the incident, and the concerned staff member has been placed under suspension. According to A Sridhar, Chief Public Relations Officer of South Central Railway, the decorated cabin was only a two-berth First AC coupe booked through the normal reservation system. The couple had privately engaged a decorator online to decorate their coupe, and the decorator’s entry into the coach at Jalna station was unauthorized.
The decorator has been booked under the extant provisions of the Railway Act for unauthorized entry into the train, traveling without a ticket, and indulging in trespassing. Indian Railways has a separate procedure for booking a dedicated coach or an entire train for special occasions. Online booking of FTR trains is allowed for journeys originating from stations across all railway zones.
However, chartered coaches can be attached or detached only at stations where the train has a scheduled stoppage of 10 minutes or more. FTR registration can be done a maximum of six months in advance and a minimum of 30 days before the date of journey. Under FTR booking, passengers can reserve a maximum of two coaches in a single train, subject to technical feasibility.
In case of booking an entire FTR train, a party can book up to 24 coaches, including two mandatory SLR coaches/generator cars. The minimum composition of an FTR train is 18 coaches. The party has to provide details such as booking type, journey details, coach requirements, route, and other information through the online form.
A registration-cum-security deposit of Rs 50,000 per coach has to be paid at the time of booking. Even if a party books an entire train with fewer than 18 coaches, the security deposit for a minimum composition of 18 coaches must be paid, which amounts to Rs 9 lakh. The fare amount as advised by IRCTC must be paid in full at least seven working days before the journey date or by the date specified by IRCTC, whichever is earlier.
All payments to IRCTC must be made as online transactions only. IRCTC will refund the security deposit after adjusting any applicable undercharges as advised by the Railways. The refund will be processed only after the party submits the completed train folder along with a No Dues Certificate issued by the Railways.
After completion of the journey, the tour folder/receipt in original, along with the certified passenger name list, No Damage Certificate, and other required documents, must be submitted to the IRCTC office within 21 days. Additionally, the cancellation charges depend on the time of cancellation. Registration of coaches/trains does not guarantee allotment of coaches/trains, which will be subject to operational feasibility and availability of coaches.
All payments shall be paid in full 48 hours in advance of departure of train, and the priority will be based on the time of receiving registration amount with IRCTC and subject to successful FTR number generation.
