IRCTC and RBL Bank have brought one of India’s most rewarding travel and transit credit cards. With a low joining cost of ₹500, the IRCTC RBL Credit Card is most suited for those who regularly book through the IRCTC portal and travel through railways, metros, and other valid means of public transport. This credit card is a RuPay card, allowing for convenient UPI payments. It is also equipped with a National Common Mobility Card, making it easy to tap and pay at places like metro stations and bus terminals. This credit card would make daily commuting simple, all with a low annual fee.
The IRCTC RBL RuPay Credit Card offers 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on train bookings with IRCTC. Since 1 Reward Point earned with this card equals ₹1 when redeemed on the IRCTC website or application, this card provides a reward rate of 2.5% when booking train tickets through IRCTC. This is especially beneficial for those who travel frequently by train. Apart from train bookings, cardholders shall also be awarded 2 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on flight, cruise, and hotel bookings with IRCTC. Additionally, the card offers free access to railway lounges (upto eight each year), providing travelers with complimentary snacks, tea/coffee, and other amenities for added comfort and convenience.
IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card
Joining Fee
Renewal Fee
Best Suited For
Reward Type
Welcome Benefits
Movie & Dining
N/A
Rewards Rate
5 RPs/₹200 Spent on Train Bookings and 2 RPs/₹200 Spent on Hotel/Flights/Cruise Bookings (All Bookings to be Made With IRCTC). 1 RP/₹200 Spent on Other Eligible Purchases
Reward Redemption
Redeem RPs at the IRCTC Website/Mobile App. 1 RP = ₹1
Travel
2 Complimentary Railway Lounge Visits Each Quarter (8 Each Year)
Domestic Lounge Access
N/A
International Lounge Access
N/A
Golf
N/A
Insurance Benefits
Insurance Cover for Train Cancellation Upto ₹5,000
Spend-Based Waiver
N/A
Rewards Redemption Fee
₹99 + GST
Foreign Currency Markup
3.5%
Interest Rates
2.5% to 3.99% Per Month
Fuel Surcharge
1% Surcharge Waiver
Cash Advance Charges
2.5% of the Cash Amount or a Minimum of ₹500
- The IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card offers 5 Reward Points/₹200 spent on train ticket bookings with IRCTC.
- This is a co-branded credit card offered by RBL Bank and IRCTC.
- Eight complimentary railway lounge accesses are available each year with this card.
- Train cancellation cover upto ₹5,000 is offered along with the IRCTC RBL Credit Card.
- Make quick and easy payments via UPI using the IRCTC RBL RuPay Credit Card.
Pros
This card is most useful for individuals who frequently book with IRCTC, particularly for train bookings, as it offers a 2.5% reward rate when booking train tickets through IRCTC.
Cons
The IRCTC RBL Credit Card is a travel card that offers no benefits in any other category, such as movies or dining. If this card had a few more varied benefits, it would have been the go-to choice for everyone.
Reward Points Earning
Rewards are the most important feature of any credit card. Let’s examine the rewards offered by the IRCTC RBL Credit Card for various transactions and categories.
- 5 Reward Points/₹200 spent on train ticket bookings of all classes from the IRCTC Website or Mobile App.
- 3 Reward Points/₹200 spent on FASTag Recharge from RBL Bank Digital Channels/NCMC Reload/UTS App.
- 2 Reward Points/₹200 spent on flights, hotels, or cruise ticket bookings from the IRCTC Website or Mobile App.
- 1 Reward Point/₹200 spent on all other purchases, excluding accelerated or excluded categories like rent, wallet, insurance, and fuel.
IRCTC RBL Credit Card Features and Benefits
Welcome Benefits
Earn 500 Reward Points on spending a minimum of ₹500 within the first 30 days of card issuance. These bonus reward points shall be credited within 60 days. To fully utilize these points, one should redeem them through the IRCTC website or mobile application.
Complimentary Railway Lounge Access
With the IRCTC RBL Credit Card, cardholders can easily access railway lounges across the country without paying additional costs. Simply swipe your card and have a joyful experience at the railway lounge. Primary cardholders shall be eligible for 2 complimentary railway lounge visits each quarter. The complete list of railway lounges accessible is available online.
Waiver of 1% Transaction Charges on IRCTC
With this card, you get a 1% waiver on transaction charges for train ticket bookings through IRCTC for up to ₹500 transactions, with a maximum waiver of ₹200 per month.
Credit Card on UPI
Since this card is available on RuPay, one can easily link it to the UPI application of their choice, like Google Pay, and make payments through their phone. This comes in very handy when one doesn’t have a physical credit card, or the merchant doesn’t have a POS terminal.
National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)
The RBL Bank RuPay Credit Card is designed to facilitate contactless travel using the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) feature. This feature allows cardholders to make quick payments at metro stations, bus terminals, and other locations by simply tapping the card on the card reader. The NCMC feature includes an inbuilt offline wallet with a current maximum limit of ₹2,000. Cardholders can enjoy the benefits of the NCMC Credit Card at Delhi Metro (DMRC), Bangalore Metro (BMRCL), Mumbai Metro (MMRDA), and many other locations. A complete list of available metros and other terminals is available here.
The balance in the offline wallet is separate from the available credit limit on the IRCTC RBL Credit Card.
Comparison With Other IRCTC Co-Branded Credit Cards
IRCTC has also launched co-branded credit cards with other banks and institutions, such as HDFC and SBI Card. To make the right choice, it’s best to compare the benefits offered by all similar credit cards. Take a look at all the features of multiple IRCTC credit cards.
Features | IRCTC RBL RuPay Credit Card | HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card |
Joining/Annual Fee | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST |
Welcome Gift | 500 Reward Points | Amazon Voucher Worth ₹500 |
Rewards on IRCTC Train Bookings | 5 Reward Points/₹200 (2.5%) | 5 CashPoints/₹100 (5%) |
Rewards on Other Eligible Purchases | 1 Reward Point/₹200 | 1 CashPoints/₹100 |
Railway Lounge Access | 8 Each Year (Maximum 2 Each Quarter) | 8 Each Year (Maximum 2 Each Quarter) |
Milestone Benefits | N/A | ₹500 Voucher on Quarterly Spends of ₹30,000 |
UPI Enabled | Yes | Yes |
The HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card offers more benefits than the IRCTC RBL Credit Card in terms of rewards. Although it might be challenging to differentiate between the two since they can be availed at the same joining charge, it’s evident that the HDFC IRCTC Co-Branded Credit Card offers much higher reward point earnings. Additionally, it provides the same number of complimentary railway lounge visits.
IRCTC RBL RuPay Credit Card Review
The IRCTC RBL Card has been innovated and launched with the bank’s “Customer First” approach in mind. This handy and rewarding card is for those who regularly book through the IRCTC official portal. If you commute regularly through the railways, you should definitely opt for this card. Since this card is also incorporated with the National Common Mobility Card, it offers the convenience of tap-and-pay at various metros and bus terminals.
Available at a joining/annual fee of just ₹500, this card offers one of the best reward rates for train bookings via IRCTC and other privileges like complimentary railway lounge access. It is highly recommended for those who often commute via railway.