Railway Season Tickets: Rules, Fares, Documents and How to Book (2026)
A railway season ticket is one of the most useful and highly subsidised facilities offered by Indian Railways for regular travellers. Instead of buying a ticket every day, you buy one pass and travel any number of times between your two chosen stations for the whole period. This guide explains the season ticket rules, fares, the documents you need, student season tickets, and how to book, all in simple words.
Important 2026 update: The old UTS mobile app was discontinued from 1 March 2026. Season tickets are now booked and renewed on the new official RailOne app, or at the station counter and ATVM. Existing UTS passes stay valid until they expire, after which you renew on RailOne.
- What is a Season Ticket?
- Season Ticket Fares
- Key Rules for Season Ticket Holders
- Season Tickets for Students
- How to Book a Season Ticket
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Season Ticket?
A season ticket, also called a pass, lets you travel unlimited times between two fixed stations for a set period. It saves you from standing in ticket queues every day and works out far cheaper than buying single tickets. It is meant for people who commute regularly for work or study.
Types and Periods
| By Period | Monthly (MST), Quarterly (QST), Half-yearly, Yearly |
| By Class | Second Class and First Class only |
| Valid on | Unreserved (general) coaches on suburban and non-suburban sections |
The longer the period, the more you save. As a rough guide, a Quarterly ticket is about 2.7 times the monthly fare, a Half-yearly about 5.4 times, and a Yearly about 10.8 times, so buying for a longer period lowers your monthly cost.
Season Ticket Fares
- A Second Class Monthly Season Ticket (MST) fare is roughly equal to 15 single second class ordinary journeys, so if you travel daily, the savings are large.
- A First Class MST costs about four times the Second Class MST fare, but the coach is far less crowded.
- Children season tickets are issued at half the adult fare.
- Fares depend on the distance between your two stations, so check the exact amount at the counter, on the RailOne app, or on the m-Indicator app.
Tip: Booking through the RailOne app with a digital payment (UPI, card, net banking) can earn a small discount on unreserved tickets, and it saves you the counter queue.
Distance Limit
Season tickets are normally issued up to 150 km. On selected pairs of stations, zonal railways have been allowed to extend this up to 160 km. A few long-standing routes issue passes for longer distances where this facility existed historically. For your route, the counter or app will confirm if a pass is available.
Identity Card
- Every season ticket holder is issued a photo Identity Card at a nominal cost of about Rs 1.
- The card shows your name, address, age, sex and signature, and its number must be written on the season ticket.
- You must carry the Identity Card along with the season ticket while travelling. Without it, the ticket is treated as invalid and you are considered to be travelling without a ticket.
- Accepted photo ID proofs for issue and renewal include Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Driving Licence and Voter ID.
Key Rules for Season Ticket Holders
- Season tickets are valid only in unreserved coaches, not in reserved coaches or reserved trains.
- They are valid on ordinary and passenger trains. For Mail, Express or Superfast trains, they are valid only where specifically permitted, and First Class pass holders may travel in First Class during day time subject to distance rules.
- A First Class season ticket does not allow travel in AC coaches.
- You can carry limited luggage, generally up to 10 kg in Second Class.
- Season tickets are not transferable. Using someone else’s pass can lead to penalty and prosecution.
- Only one season ticket is issued between your place of residence and place of work or study.
- To travel in a higher class, you can pay the difference of fare.
Superfast Surcharge Ticket
Where permitted, a pass holder can travel in unreserved coaches of Superfast trains by buying a Superfast Surcharge ticket for each journey, or a monthly or quarterly surcharge ticket. This surcharge is not levied on those Superfast trains whose total run is less than 325 km.
Renewal and Advance Purchase
You can renew a season ticket in advance of its expiry. When renewed early, the new ticket is made valid from the day after the old one expires, so you do not lose any days. On the RailOne app, renewal is quick once your details are saved. At the counter, carry your old pass and Identity Card.
Refund
No refund is given on unused or partly used season tickets under any circumstances. So buy the period that matches your actual travel.
Season Tickets for Students
Students of recognised institutions get concessional season tickets in First and Second class, up to 150 km. The main points:
- A student Monthly Season Ticket is charged at about half the normal adult season ticket fare, and the student Quarterly at 2.7 times the student MST fare.
- The student’s age should not exceed 25 years (27 years for SC and ST students, 35 years for research scholars).
- SC and ST students get a further concession, with MSTs at 50% below the normal student MST fare.
Free MST for School Students
Free Second Class Monthly Season Tickets are available to boy students up to Class 10 and girl students up to Class 12, for daily travel between home and school. These are issued for second class only, up to 150 km, and are not valid on Mail or Express trains. For full details on student concessions, see our Railway Concession Rules for Students guide.
How to Book a Season Ticket
On the RailOne App
- Download the RailOne app from the Play Store or App Store. Existing IRCTC or UTS users can log in with the same credentials.
- Select the Season / Monthly Pass option.
- Enter your source and destination stations, choose the class and period.
- Complete any one-time verification for a new pass, then pay by UPI, card or net banking.
- Your pass is saved in the app. Show it when a checking officer asks.
At the Counter or ATVM
You can also book or renew at the station booking counter or an ATVM. For a first-time pass, carry a photo ID and, where required, address proof. For a student pass, carry the concession form signed by your institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
✅Which app is used to book a season ticket in 2026?
The official RailOne app. The old UTS app was discontinued from 1 March 2026. You can also book at the counter or ATVM.
✅Can I get a refund on a season ticket?
No. Refund on unused or partly used season tickets is not allowed under any circumstances.
✅Is a season ticket valid on Express trains?
Only where specifically permitted. By default, passes are valid on ordinary and passenger trains in unreserved coaches, not in reserved coaches.
✅What documents do I need?
A valid photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Driving Licence or Voter ID. Students also need a concession form signed by their institution.
✅How much can I save with a season ticket?
A monthly pass costs about the same as 15 single journeys, so daily commuters (40 plus trips a month) save a lot. Longer periods lower the monthly cost further.
✅Do I have to carry the Identity Card?
Yes. Without the Identity Card, the season ticket is treated as invalid and you are considered to be travelling without a ticket.
Quick Summary
| What it is | Unlimited travel pass between two stations |
| Book on | RailOne app (UTS discontinued from 1 March 2026), counter or ATVM |
| Periods | Monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, yearly |
| Classes | Second Class and First Class |
| Distance | Up to 150 km (160 km on selected routes) |
| Refund | Not allowed |
| Student MST | About half the normal adult fare |
A season ticket is the smartest way to travel if you commute regularly by train. Switch to the RailOne app, keep your Identity Card handy, and enjoy stress-free daily travel. For more, see our guides on the Mumbai Local Season Ticket, the Izzat Monthly Season Ticket, and Student Concession Rules.
Have a question about your season ticket or route fare? Ask in the comments, and we will help in simple words.
Can travel in train coach , coach is in place of first class and I have a superfast season pass
Hello, thanks for writing in.
A season pass is valid only in unreserved coaches, so you cannot travel in a reserved coach on it. With a valid Superfast surcharge ticket, you can travel in the unreserved coaches of a Superfast train where permitted on your section.
If the First Class coach was not attached to your train, you may travel in Second Class on the same pass. There is no refund for that journey, but you are not travelling without a ticket. Just explain this to the checking officer.
Two things to remember: always carry your photo Identity Card with the pass, since the pass alone is treated as invalid without it, and a First Class pass does not cover AC coaches.
Do let me know your route if you need a clearer answer.