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During the Christmas and New Year season, when families are going out by train, it becomes very important to understand the ticket rules for children. Many parents still do not know at what age a child’s ticket is necessary and at what age the full fare has to be paid. If you have correct knowledge of the rules then the journey will become easy, comfortable and according to the budget.
New Delhi. When your family is traveling by train, it becomes very important to understand the ticket rules for children. Many people still do not know at what age a child ticket is necessary and at what age the full fare has to be paid. According to the Railway Ministry’s circular dated March 6, 2020, tickets are not available for children below 5 years of age, unless a separate seat or berth is asked for them. Parents can accompany such small children without any charges. But if you want to book a separate berth for convenience, you will have to pay the full adult fare. Many families travel long distances during festivals and holidays, in such a situation this rule helps a lot in budget planning.
Two types of fare rules for children aged 5 to 12 years
Indian Railways provides flexible arrangements for this age group. If a separate seat or berth is not required for the child, then reduced fare i.e. child fare is applicable, which provides relief in the family expenses. But if the journey is long and the child needs a separate place, then the fare has to be paid equal to that of an adult. This option gives parents the freedom to take decisions according to their budget and comfort. Therefore, while booking tickets, it is important to enter the age and needs of the children correctly.
No children after 12 years, full fare will have to be paid
Children of 12 years of age and above are considered adults under railway rules. This means that full fare will have to be paid on both reserved and unreserved tickets. It is very important to give correct details of age because giving wrong information can also lead to penalty during checking. In long distance travel, this rule directly impacts both fare calculation and seat availability.
How to book child ticket on IRCTC?
As soon as the child’s date of birth is entered during online ticket booking, the system automatically decides the correct fare based on age. For children under 5 years, if you do not want a separate berth, just add it in ‘Additional Passenger Information’ – no extra payment required. Even in offline booking, parents can implement this rule by clearly writing the age of the child in the form. Knowledge of these rules not only makes the journey easier but also saves from unnecessary expenses and last minute problems.
