(IRCTC) website and mobile app have introduced a new feature from where one can link the PNR numbers of two connecting journeys. This is in cases where people have booked tickets between a pair of stations for which direct trains may not be available on that particular date.This will help passengers to get a refund if they miss their second train because the first train is delayed. This is similar to how international flights operate, which ensure passengers are given a different flight if the connecting flight on the same airline is delayed.
However, telescopic benefit will not be given to the passenger booking interconnected journey. In Indian Railways, as one travels a longer distance, the price of the journey per km decreases, which is known as telescopic fare.
Take the case of a passenger who has booked a ticket from Pune to Dhanbad in two inter-linked journeys - Pune to Howrah and Howrah to Dhanbad. In case the train from Pune is delayed and arrives after the train to Dhanbad has departed, the passenger will be able to avail a full refund for the latter journey.
This facility is now available on the IRCTC app and website. To use this, one has to click on the menu link on the IRCTC website and click on ‘Trains’. A drop-down menu will show ‘Connecting Journey Booking’.
For booking a connecting journey ticket, one has to first book the first journey ticket.
This can be an e-ticket or a paper ticket bought at the contact. While booking the connecting journey ticket, IRCTC will ask for the PNR number of the first journey ticket, which has to be entered.
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