3% discount on train tickets: Railways makes major announcement, offer to start on RailOne from this date
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Railways has announced a relief measure for passengers who travel by train daily. To reduce the extra cost burden, a direct three percent discount will now be available on the purchase of unreserved (general) tickets through digital payment. The Ministry of Railways has declared that this discount will be applicable on tickets booked via the RailOne app. The offer will remain valid from 14 January 2026 to 14 July 2026, and is expected to benefit a large number of passengers.
To implement this decision, the Railway Ministry has issued instructions to the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to make the required software changes. During the specified period, the discount will be applied automatically at the time of booking tickets through the RailOne app. This move is seen as an important step towards promoting digital payments and making the unreserved ticket system more simple and convenient.
Currently, RailOne users receive a three percent cashback when making payments through the R-Wallet, and the Railways has clarified that this benefit will continue as before. Under the new scheme, passengers will also get a three percent discount when purchasing tickets using UPI, debit cards, and other digital payment options, apart from the R-Wallet.
According to railway officials, earlier the cashback facility was limited to select payment modes, but now its scope has been expanded to reach more passengers. This is expected to encourage digital transactions and reduce long queues at ticket counters. The decision is likely to be especially beneficial for daily commuters in metro cities and suburban areas.
The RailOne app has been developed as an integrated digital platform for unreserved tickets, platform tickets, and other railway services. Through this app, passengers can book tickets directly on their mobile phones, helping them avoid long waiting lines at railway stations.