How railway employees travel in trains, and what privileges their families enjoy

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-16 10:44:29 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-16 20:19:28

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Whether you find it irritating or envy-inducing, the popular perception that railway employees and their families can travel for free onboard the trains is largely true here's how.

While rumours have it that railway staff can hitch a ride on any train at any time, the privilege is actually limited to three free railway passes per employee every year. Out of these, one is issued before five years of service, and only for the employee's spouse and children. The employee themselves can receive any of the three passes.

These free passes are named 'Privilege Ticket Orders' (PTOs), and can be used for any train journey within India, including Tatkal tickets. PTOs are strictly for single journeys between two stations, with any stops or detours along the route incurring extra costs. The passes come with some other strings attached, such as not being valid on peak days like weekends and festivals, and not being refundable or transferable.

Beyond these three annual free journeys, railway employees also enjoy a slight discount on all tickets they personally book. Their families can also access the same discounts, but only if they're travelling together with the employee. There are also separate quotas for highly-ranked officers, although their privileges are a little bit more generous, including free accommodation in certain huts and cabins available at major stations.

While the precise number of free rides per year afforded to officers isn't public, it is believed to be four, according to a source quoted in a previous article. Their privileges also extend to getting preference in hiring railway quarters and getting a pensionary benefit of up to 97% of their last pay, should they retire with less than four decades of service.

With such perks, it's no wonder that finding an officer among applicants competing for a job is easier. Some choose to take the exam just for the benefits. As one employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us, "The pension is a huge draw, especially for those nearing retirement."

All this is likely to remain priviledged information for the general public, unless there is a drastic shift in the culture of transparency in Indian Railways.

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