It is pretty common for families to charter a private jet or even book all tickets for an aeroplane for their family if they are all travelling for a destination wedding or vacation. This is an easy and
inexpensive method of travelling as a huge group.
But have you heard of booking an entire train that is run by the Indian railways?
Well, this is a relatively new and unheard-of option that the railways is trying out as a pilot programme. Recently, a video went viral of a two-berth First AC coupe in a train being decorated as a wedding bed for a newlywed couple travelling. This raised a lot of questions and has even led to an investigation into the matter.
In fact, in an interview with Indian Express, A Sridhar, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of South Central Railway (SCR), said, “A couple travelling in Train No. 11002 Nandigram Express on 6/7/26 had privately engaged a decorator online to decorate their 1st AC coupe. The decorator’s entry into the coach at Jalna station was unauthorised and is viewed as a serious lapse. The concerned staff member has been placed under suspension, and a detailed departmental inquiry has been ordered. Appropriate action will be taken based on the inquiry findings.”
So if you are planning a big group trip—whether it’s a family vacation, destination wedding, or pilgrimage, you can look into this new programme. You can book a full coach or even an entire train so everyone can travel together. Indian Railways offers this through the Full Tariff Rate (FTR) system, which lets you reserve multiple coaches or a full train for private use.
It is important to note that registering and paying the FTR amount does not automatically guarantee that you will get the coaches or train you requested. Final allotment depends on operational feasibility and availability of coaches on your chosen dates and route. For example, high‑demand periods, heavy traffic, or maintenance schedules may affect supply.
Where the pilot runs
Right now, online FTR booking is on a pilot basis and is available only for journeys starting from stations on Western Railway. That means your trip must originate from a WR station (like Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad, etc.) for you to use this online option.
How to book: online or at the station
You can register for FTR in two ways:
Online (IRCTC FTR website – ftr.irctc.co.in)
- Choose whether you want coach booking (attached to a regular train) or train booking (a full special train).
- Enter your journey details: date, starting station (WR only), destination, number and type of coaches, and route.
- After submitting, you receive a reference number and the registration amount payable.
- You must pay this registration amount within 6 days (including the day of request). Once payment is realised, your request gets a unique FTR number.
- If you don’t pay within 6 days, the reference number is cancelled and you must start the process again.
At the journey station (UTS/CBS route)
- Go to the Chief Booking Supervisor (CBS) or Station Master at your journey‑starting station and submit a written request with all journey details.
- The CBS enters your request in the FTR system and gives you a slip with a reference number and registration amount.
- Take this slip to the UTS counter, pay the registration amount, and receive a money receipt with your FTR number printed.
- Return to the CBS with the FTR number if you want a printout of your full request details for records.
When to book
You can register for FTR as early as 6 months before your journey and no later than 30 days before departure. This window is important for weddings and vacations where dates and logistics are fixed well in advance.
How many coaches you can book
You have two options, depending on group size:
Coach booking
- You can book up to 10 coaches in a regular train for one tour programme.
- This is suitable for large families, wedding parties, or tour groups that want private coaches but don’t need a separate train.
Train booking
- You can book up to 24 coaches in an FTR special train.
- At least 2 SLR (luggage/guard) coaches are mandatory, and they count within the 24‑coach limit.
- This suits very large wedding groups, corporate trips, or big organised tours.
Registration amount and cost logic
FTR involves paying a registration amount upfront, which is adjusted against the final tariff:
For coach booking:
- For a tour of up to 7 days, the registration amount is ₹50,000 per coach.
- If your trip exceeds 7 days, you pay an extra ₹10,000 per coach, per day beyond the 7‑day period.
For train booking:
- The minimum registration amount is calculated for 18 coaches, including the mandatory 2 SLR coaches, for up to 7 days of tour: ₹9,00,000 total.
- If you book more than 18 passenger coaches, add ₹50,000 per extra coach to the registration amount.
- If your tour period goes beyond 7 days, add ₹10,000 per coach, per day beyond 7 days.
- Even if you book less than 18 coaches, you still pay the minimum registration amount for 18 coaches.
- These amounts can change if the Ministry of Railways revises FTR tariffs, so it’s wise to check current figures before planning.
Refunds and cancellations
If the booking is cancelled either by you or by the Railways, the refund is processed through the usual manual system via the Chief Commercial Manager. The exact refund you receive will depend on prevailing FTR rules and any applicable charges.
