Sending parcels by train becomes cheaper; Railways announces a major discount

The Railways has launched a new scheme offering discounts on parcel bookings. This means that for eligible bookings, the cost of sending a parcel will be lower than before; however, it is important to note that this scheme will not be available to everyone.

The festive season has begun, a time when people often send gifts or sweets to friends and relatives. If you are planning to send a parcel to someone special via train, there is some welcome news for you.

Indian Railways has announced discounts on parcel bookings during the festive season. It is important to note that this discount is not applicable to all passengers. Let’s first look at the extent of the discount being offered.

How much is the discount?

Under the new scheme, eligible parcel aggregators booking for a round trip (both directions) will be charged 1.5 times the standard one-way fare. In other words, you pay the full fare for one leg of the journey and half the fare for the return leg, resulting in a 25% saving on the total round-trip booking.

When does the scheme begin?

The Railway Board issued a circular regarding this scheme on October 19, and it has been implemented immediately. According to reports, it will run as a pilot project for one year. A key question is: will this scheme apply to all routes?

Will the discount be available on all routes?

The crucial question is whether the discount applies to all routes—the answer is no. This new scheme will be applicable to existing and future routes operating under the JPR-RCS (Joint Parcel Product - Round Trip/Circuit Service) framework. Notably, the routes connecting Delhi’s Patel Nagar and Kolkata’s Chitpur are excluded from this scheme.

Who will benefit from this discount?

The most important question is: who exactly will benefit from this? It should be noted that the benefits of this scheme will not be available to everyone; rather, they will be extended to eligible parcel aggregators who book through the Railways' 'Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service' (JPP-RCS). In other words, this concession is not intended for individuals or for general parcel bookings—meaning the general public will not receive any direct benefit from it.