Railways to offer 20% discount on return tickets for festival rush, bookings open Aug 14

New Delhi, Aug 9: To ease the festival season rush and make train travel smoother, Indian Railways will launch an experimental “Round Trip Package” scheme offering a 20% discount on the base fare of return tickets. Bookings open on August 14 for onward journeys between October 13 and 26, 2025, with return trips scheduled between November 17 and December 1, 2025.

The scheme applies to confirmed tickets in the same class and route for both legs of the journey, with passenger details matching for onward and return travel.

The usual 60-day advance reservation limit will not apply to return tickets booked under this offer. All classes and trains, including special trains, are covered except those with Flexi fares. Tickets must be booked either entirely online or at reservation counters, and no modifications, refunds, or additional discounts will be allowed. Officials say the initiative aims to distribute peak-season traffic more evenly and encourage two-way travel during the busy festive period.