Traveling by train is a common means of transportation in India. It is comfortable, affordable, and safe. Many Indians prefer to travel by train for long as well as short journeys mostly because they are cheap. In India, there are a number of credit cards that focus on providing discounts and rewards on train bookings. However, IRCTC has partnered with some banks and introduced credit cards that only focus on train bookings. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or someone who prefers occasional train journeys, there’s a co-branded card served to match your needs.
In this article, we will look at the best IRCTC co-branded credit cards available today in the market. We will discuss their features, benefits, and reasons to consider them for your next train trip. By learning about what each card offers, you can make a smart choice and save money while traveling.
HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card
The HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card was created for travelers who want to save money on travel. With a joining and annual fee of ₹499, you can waive the renewal fee by spending ₹1.5 lakhs in the previous year. This card rewards you with 1 Cash Point for every ₹100 spent, and if you book through IRCTC, you earn 5 Cash Points for every ₹100 spent on booking train tickets. You can use these points to book train tickets and flights or even redeem them for cashback. Another feature is the complimentary access to IRCTC Executive Lounges, which is granted eight times a year. You’ll receive an Amazon voucher worth ₹500 if you make your first purchase within 30 days. There is also a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹ 5,000.
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card
The IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card is a top choice for those who love to travel by train. With a modest joining fee of ₹500, this co-branded credit card offers rewards and benefits designed for railway passengers. Every time you spend ₹125 on retail purchases, you earn 1 Reward Point, which can be used for future bookings. For new users, there’s a special welcome offer of 350 Reward Points when you make your first transaction of ₹500 or more within 45 days of receiving the card. This card also provides you access to 4 complimentary railway lounges each year, once every quarter. You can save 1% on transaction fees for booking railway tickets through IRCTC’s website or app. With this card, you get a fuel surcharge waiver on transactions ranging from ₹500 to ₹3,000. The IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card is beneficial for frequent travelers looking to save money and want to enjoy perks while traveling.
IRCTC SBI Card Premier
SBI has two co-branded credit cards with IRCTC for its users. The IRCTC SBI Card Premier comes with a joining fee of ₹1,499 plus taxes, which can be easily waived on spending ₹2 lakhs in the previous year. This card offers welcome benefits in terms of 1,500 Reward Points after paying the joining fee. Users get access to the railway lounge twice every quarter so that they can relax while waiting for their train. A milestone benefit is also provided with this card, where users earn 2,500 Reward Points on spending ₹50,000 annually and 5,000 Reward Points on spending ₹1 lakh yearly. Users will also receive insurance coverage for rail accidents, fraud liability coverage, etc. Renewal fee waiver and fuel surcharge waiver are also included with this card.
IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card
The IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card is one of the most affordable train ticket booking cards, with an annual fee of ₹500 plus taxes. People who travel frequently and want to earn Reward Points should opt for this card. The reward rate of this card is so outstanding, as users can earn 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on train bookings, 2 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on hotels/ flights/ cruise bookings, and 1 Reward Point for every ₹200 spent on other categories. The best part is the reward redemption, where the value of 1 Reward Point = ₹1, and that can be redeemed at the official website of IRCTC. Other benefits of this card include 500 Reward Points as a welcome benefit, railway lounge access at select stations twice every quarter, and a waiver of 1% on transaction charges on IRCTC. This card can be easily linked with UPI and provides the service of the National Common Mobility Card.
IRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card
BOBCARD has tied up with the IRCTC and rolled out the IRCTC BOBCARD Credit Card. These credit cards are particularly designed for people who travel on trains on a regular basis. With a nominal joining fee of ₹500 plus taxes, this card offers railway lounge access to its loyal users. A person who has the BOBCARD will enjoy many benefits, such as complimentary railway lounge access once every quarter, fuel surcharge waiver, railway surcharge waiver, and zero credit card loss liability. The annual fee of this card is ₹350 plus taxes, which is affordable for middle-class people. An introductory benefit is also provided with this card where users get 1,000 bonus Reward Points on spending ₹1,000 through a single transaction. This card even has an impressive reward rate where users will earn 40 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on railway tickets booked through IRCTC, 4 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on grocery and departmental stores, and 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on other categories. The value of 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25.
Bottom Line
Choosing the right IRCTC co-branded credit card can improve your travel experience and help you save money on train bookings. The HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card is a great option for frequent travelers. It offers good rewards, free lounge access, and a low annual fee that can be waived with spending. This card lets you redeem points for flights and cashback as well. If your focus is more on retail shopping and railway benefits, the IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card is also a good choice. All these cards mentioned above solely focus on IRCTC train bookings and people who want a comfortable train journey should opt for the card of their choice.