Best IRCTC Credit Card in India: 5 Top Picks for Train Lovers

I have used credit cards for 20 years, and for the last 8 of those I have not paid for a flight, a hotel stay, a forex markup or a service fee because of how I use my cards. That is why I can tell you plainly which card is right for which kind of person, and today we are talking about the best IRCTC credit card for train bookings and railway lounge access. If you book even a few train tickets every year, one of these cards will almost certainly save you money.

Quick Answer: Top IRCTC Credit Cards Ranked

Here is the ranking if you are in a hurry. I have compared reward points, annual fees, and railway lounge visits to pick the winner.

Rank	Card	Best For	Annual Fee
1	IRCTC SBI Card Premier	Heavy train users who also spend on dining and utilities	Rs. 1,499
2	IRCTC SBI Card Platinum	Budget-conscious frequent train travellers	Rs. 500
3	IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card	HDFC customers wanting milestone vouchers and 8 lounge visits	Rs. 500 (approx.)
4	IRCTC BOBCARD	Offline grocery shoppers and flexible cashback seekers	Rs. 350 (renewal)
5	IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card	Lounge lovers who want 8 visits at a low fee	Rs. 500

• IRCTC SBI Card Premier delivers the highest reward rate on train bookings plus bonus points on dining and utilities, making it the overall winner for high spenders.
• IRCTC SBI Card Platinum gives the same IRCTC reward rate as Premier but at a fraction of the cost, making it the value pick.
• IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card is a solid all-rounder with milestone vouchers and 8 railway lounge visits, ideal if you already bank with HDFC.
• IRCTC BOBCARD stands out for its unique grocery rewards, though the headline reward rate can be misleading.
• IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card is a simple no-fuss card with 8 lounge visits at a low fee, but the reward rate is basic.

Who Should Get an IRCTC Credit Card?

These co-branded cards are not for everyone. They make the most sense if you check at least a few of these boxes:

• You book train tickets regularly through the IRCTC app or website. Even one or two trips a month can add up.
• You want railway lounge access but do not want to pay for a premium travel card that costs Rs. 3,000 or more per year.
• You are looking for a low-fee card with travel benefits. Most IRCTC cards sit in the Rs. 350-1,500 range.
• You rarely travel by train. If you take a train once a year, a general travel or cashback card might be better.

IRCTC SBI Card Premier: Best for Heavy Train Users and Everyday Spends

If you want the highest reward on IRCTC bookings and also spend on dining or utilities, the IRCTC SBI Card Premier is your card. I rank it number one because it gives 10 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on IRCTC ticket bookings. That is a 10% reward rate before considering point value, which is excellent for a co-branded card.

But the card works harder than just train bookings. You earn 3 points per Rs. 125 on dining and utility bill payments. That is roughly 2.4% back if you value points at Rs. 1, and it turns this from a niche card into a daily-use card for many households.

The annual fee is Rs. 1,499, which may sound high. However, the card offers milestone rewards of up to 5,000 points on travel spends, which can partially offset the fee. Plus you get 8 railway lounge visits per year. If you use even a few of those visits, the card can pay for itself.

The drawback: You need to spend enough on the bonus categories to justify the higher fee. If you only use the card for train tickets and never dine out or pay utility bills through it, you might be better off with a lower-fee option. Also, the fee waiver requires a spend of Rs. 3,00,000 in a year, so most people will end up paying the annual fee.

IRCTC SBI Card Platinum: Best Value at a Low Fee

For most people, I recommend the IRCTC SBI Card Platinum as the best IRCTC credit card for pure value. It offers the same 10 reward points per Rs. 100 on IRCTC spends as the Premier, but the annual fee is only Rs. 500. You also get 4 railway lounge visits per year and a 1% transaction charge waiver on train bookings.

This is the card for budget-conscious travellers who book train tickets frequently but do not want to pay a high fee. You get the core benefit of the top-tier card at one-third of the cost.

The drawback: The Platinum lacks the dining and utility rewards of the Premier. If you do not spend on those categories anyway, that does not matter. Also, there is a fee waiver on spending Rs. 1,00,000, but that is a lot for many people. The renewal fee may be Rs. 300, but you should confirm on the SBI Card website.

IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card: Solid All-Rounder with Milestones

HDFC Bank customers often ask me about this one, and it is a good fit if you want milestone benefits. The IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card gives 5 reward points per Rs. 100 on IRCTC spends and 1 point per Rs. 100 on all other spends. That base rate is decent for a co-branded card. You also get 8 railway lounge visits, matching the SBI Premier.

The joining gift of a Rs. 500 voucher is a nice touch, and the quarterly milestone of a Rs. 500 voucher on spending Rs. 30,000 can add value. If you already bank with HDFC, the application process is usually smoother, and you can often manage the card in the same app.

The drawback: The reward rate on IRCTC spends is half of what SBI offers. You would need to value the milestone vouchers and extra lounge visits to make up for that gap. Also, this card is not currently in our CardBuddy catalog, so double-check that it is still open for new applications before you get your hopes up.

IRCTC BOBCARD: Unique Grocery Rewards and Cashback Option

The IRCTC BOBCARD is an interesting one. It advertises up to 40 reward points per Rs. 100 on IRCTC tickets, which sounds like a massive 40% back. But here is the catch: points redeem at only Rs. 0.25 each. That brings the effective reward rate down to around 10%, similar to the SBI cards. You must read the fine print.

What makes this card unique is its rewards on departmental store spends. If you shop for groceries offline at places like Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, or local supermarkets, you could earn extra points that other IRCTC cards do not offer. The card also gives 4 railway lounge visits per year, and the joining fee is Rs. 500 with a renewal fee of Rs. 350.

The drawback: The redemption value can be confusing, and you may not know the exact rate until you try to redeem. If you do not care about grocery rewards, there are simpler options. I would suggest checking the current point value on the Bank of Baroda website before applying.

IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card: Great for Lounge Lovers

If you want 8 railway lounge visits at a low fee, the IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card delivers. It gives 5 reward points per Rs. 100 on IRCTC spends, which is lower than SBI but still decent. You also get 500 welcome points, which is a small bonus.

For Rs. 500 a year, the 8 lounge visits alone could be worth it if you travel often and use railway lounges at major stations. The card is straightforward with no complex milestones or categories. It is a good pick if simplicity matters to you.

The drawback: The reward rate is half of what SBI Platinum offers for the same fee. Unless you really value the extra lounge visits or want to avoid SBI for some reason, the Platinum is usually the smarter choice. Also, check with RBL Bank if this card is still open for new applications.

How I Compare These Cards

Let me break down the key numbers so you can see the differences clearly. This table is based on the latest information I have, but always confirm on the bank's website before applying.

Card	Reward on IRCTC (per Rs. 100)	Railway Lounge Visits	Annual Fee	Other Key Benefit
SBI Premier	10 points	8	Rs. 1,499	3x on dining/utilities
SBI Platinum	10 points	4	Rs. 500	1% txn fee waiver
HDFC Bank	5 points	8	Rs. 500 (approx.)	Rs. 500 milestone voucher / quarter
BOBCARD	up to 40 points	4	Rs. 350 (renewal)	Grocery rewards
RBL Bank	5 points	8	Rs. 500	500 welcome points

To put this in perspective, let us assume you book a train ticket for Rs. 1,000. With the SBI Premier or Platinum, you earn 100 points. With HDFC or RBL, you earn 50 points. With BOBCARD, you could earn up to 400 points, but if each point is worth Rs. 0.25, that is Rs. 100 in value—same as SBI. So the point value matters as much as the number of points.

What About Non-IRCTC Rewards?

Most of us do not spend only on train tickets. You should think about where your money goes every month. If you dine out or pay utility bills often, the SBI Premier's 3 points per Rs. 125 on those categories can add up quickly. That is why I rank it first for high spenders.

The HDFC card gives a flat 1% base rate on all other spends, which is okay but not exciting. The BOBCARD offers the unique grocery rewards. The RBL card has no notable non-IRCTC benefits beyond the welcome points.

If you want a card that earns well on train bookings and other spends, you might also look at general travel cards or cashback cards. We have a list of the best cards for lounge access that covers more premium options.

Which Card for Which Profile?

Here is how I would break it down by the kind of traveller or spender you are:

• Frequent train traveller on a budget: IRCTC SBI Card Platinum. You get the top reward rate for just Rs. 500.
• Frequent train traveller who dines out or pays utilities: IRCTC SBI Card Premier. The extra points can justify the fee.
• Existing HDFC customer who wants milestone rewards: IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card. You also get 8 lounge visits.
• Offline grocery shopper: IRCTC BOBCARD. The departmental store rewards are a nice add-on.
• Lounge lover on a low budget: IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card. Eight visits for Rs. 500 is good value.
• Student or first-time applicant: Start with the SBI Platinum or RBL card. Their lower fees and simple structure are easier to manage.
• High-income earner who wants overall rewards: Consider the SBI Premier but also compare it to premium travel cards that might earn better on flights and hotels.

If you are not sure which card fits your exact spending pattern, take the 2-minute quiz on CardBuddy and I will tell you the card made for you.

FAQs

Which IRCTC credit card gives the highest reward on train bookings?

Both SBI IRCTC cards—Premier and Platinum—give 10 reward points per Rs. 100 on IRCTC spends, which is the highest straightforward rate. The BOBCARD advertises up to 40 points per Rs. 100, but points are only worth Rs. 0.25 each, so the effective value is similar.

What is the annual fee for IRCTC SBI Premier?

The annual fee for IRCTC SBI Card Premier is Rs. 1,499 plus taxes. The joining fee is the same. You also get 8 railway lounge visits per year and milestone rewards on travel spends.

Do IRCTC credit cards give railway lounge access?

Yes, most IRCTC co-branded credit cards offer railway lounge access. The SBI Premier, HDFC, and RBL cards provide 8 visits per year, while SBI Platinum and BOBCARD offer 4 visits. You typically need to book your train ticket with the same card to use the lounge.

Can I use an IRCTC credit card for non-train spends?

Absolutely. All these cards can be used anywhere credit cards are accepted. However, the reward rates on non-IRCTC spends are usually much lower. The SBI Premier stands out with bonus rewards on dining and utilities, and the BOBCARD offers grocery rewards.

Is there a fee waiver on IRCTC credit cards?

Yes, but the thresholds vary. The IRCTC SBI Platinum waives the annual fee on spending Rs. 1,00,000 in a year. The SBI Premier waives it on Rs. 3,00,000. Other cards may not offer a fee waiver. Always check the current terms on the bank's website.

If you are considering a card specifically for railway lounges, you might also want to read our guide on the best cards for lounge access to see how these compare to airport lounge options.

My Final Recommendation

If you just want one card and do not overthink it, go with the IRCTC SBI Card Platinum. It gives the best reward rate on train bookings for the lowest fee. If you spend more on dining and utilities and can use the extra benefits, step up to the IRCTC SBI Card Premier. Existing HDFC customers may prefer the HDFC variant for its milestone vouchers. And if you have a thing for grocery rewards, the BOBCARD is a niche pick worth considering.

Remember, credit card fees and benefits change often, so before you apply, check the latest terms on the bank's website. And if you are still unsure which card aligns with your lifestyle, find the card made for you with our short quiz. It only takes two minutes, and you will get a personalised recommendation instead of a generic list.

If you want to compare all the cards in one place, you can also check out our card comparison tool. We update it regularly with the latest fees and benefits.