Child Tickets : The familiar chaos of Indian railway platforms will soon undergo a subtle but significant change as families prepare for travel under revised child ticketing regulations.

After years of maintaining the same age-based fare structure, Indian Railways has announced comprehensive modifications to its child ticketing policy, affecting millions of families who rely on train travel for everything from vacation journeys to essential visits home.

These changes, scheduled for implementation starting September 1, 2025, represent the most substantial revision to child fare regulations in over a decade.

Having analyzed the official notification and spoken with railway officials across divisions, I’ve compiled essential information about these adjustments, their practical implications for traveling families, and strategies to navigate the transition smoothly.

Child Tickets Key Changes to Age Brackets and Fare Structure

The most fundamental change involves a recalibration of age brackets that determine ticketing requirements, moving away from the longstanding system that has been familiar to generations of Indian travelers.

Under the current system, children under 5 years travel free without entitlement to a separate berth, while those between 5-12 years are charged half the adult fare with the option for a separate berth subject to availability. The new policy introduces a more nuanced three-tier structure:

• Children under 3 years: Continue to travel free without entitlement to separate berth

• Children aged 3-6 years: Pay 25% of the applicable adult fare, with no guaranteed berth

• Children aged 6-12 years: Pay 50% of the applicable adult fare with guaranteed berth allocation

“The recalibration better reflects the physical space requirements of different age groups,” explains Rajesh Kumar, Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railways.

“Our passenger surveys indicated that most children under 3 require minimal space, while those between 3-6 often need some accommodation but can share berths with parents more comfortably than older children.”

This graduated approach replaces the binary system that created particular challenges for families with children approaching age 5, where a small age difference could mean the difference between free travel and half fare.

Child Tickets Mandatory ID Proof: New Documentation Requirements

Perhaps the most practically significant change for traveling families involves the introduction of mandatory age verification for all children traveling on reduced fares.

Previously, age verification was only occasionally enforced during ticket checking, often based on the discretion of the traveling ticket examiner (TTE).

Under the new regulations, valid proof of age must be submitted during the booking process for children aged 3-12 years. Acceptable documentation includes:

• Birth certificate

• Aadhaar card

• School identification card clearly showing date of birth

• Passport

For online bookings through IRCTC, the system will require uploading scanned documentation during the reservation process, with verification occurring before confirmation. For counter bookings, physical documents must be presented at the time of reservation.

“This documentation requirement addresses a long-standing challenge of age verification disputes during journeys,” notes Priya Sharma, who has worked as a TTE on Mumbai division for eight years.

“We frequently encountered situations where passengers claimed children were younger than their apparent age, creating uncomfortable confrontations mid-journey.

The front-loaded verification process should significantly reduce these incidents.”

For children under 3 traveling free, physical verification may still occur during the journey, though no advance documentation submission is required during booking.

Railway officials recommend carrying proof of age for all children regardless of ticketing status to avoid any confusion during travel.

Child Tickets Berth Allocation Policies: Greater Clarity and Consistency

The revised policy brings welcome clarity to the often confusing area of berth allocations for children.

Under the current system, children aged 5-12 traveling on half tickets are theoretically entitled to berths subject to availability, but the practical implementation of this provision has varied widely across routes and seasons.

The new guidelines establish more definitive protocols:

• Children aged 6-12 on 50% fare tickets receive automatic berth allocation during the initial reservation process

• Children aged 3-6 on 25% fare tickets do not receive separate berth allocation but may be accommodated with parents

• For families with multiple children under 6, special “family section” allocations will be prioritized where available to provide sufficient space for comfortable travel

“The automated berth allocation for 6-12 year olds addresses a major pain point for families,” explains railway systems analyst Vikram Singh.

“Previously, parents faced uncertainty about whether their children would receive berths, making sleep arrangements difficult to plan, particularly on overnight journeys.”

This systematic approach replaces the often arbitrary decisions that varied by train, route, and season, creating more consistent experiences for traveling families regardless of which part of the railway network they utilize.

Child Tickets Implementation Timeline and Transition Provisions

The policy changes follow a phased implementation schedule:

• September 1, 2025: Initial implementation on premium trains (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto)

• October 15, 2025: Extension to all mail/express trains

• December 1, 2025: Complete implementation across the network including passenger trains

Notably, the policy includes thoughtful transition provisions for bookings made before implementation but for travel dates after the changes take effect.

Tickets issued under the previous policy will be honored according to the rules in effect at the time of booking, preventing disruption to travel plans already confirmed.

“The phased approach allows for system adjustments and staff training before network-wide implementation,” notes Southern Railway official Anita Desai.

“We anticipate some initial confusion as passengers and staff adapt to the new requirements, particularly regarding documentation verification.”

For families with existing advance bookings for travel after the implementation dates, railway authorities recommend carrying relevant age verification documents regardless of when the tickets were booked to avoid any confusion during the journey.

Child Tickets Practical Implications for Traveling Families

For families accustomed to the current system, these changes necessitate some adjustment to travel planning and booking practices:

Documentation Organization

Parents should prepare a dedicated travel document folder containing age verification for each child, preferably with multiple acceptable forms of ID to address any questions that might arise. Digital copies stored on smartphones provide useful backup to physical documents.

Mukesh Patel, who regularly travels between Ahmedabad and Delhi with his young children, shares his approach: “I’ve started keeping scanned copies of my children’s birth certificates and Aadhaar cards in a specific album on my phone, along with physical copies in our travel documents folder.

It’s an extra step during preparation, but eliminates worry about verification issues.”

Revised Budgeting for Family Travel

The introduction of the 25% fare category for children aged 3-6 creates new budgetary considerations for families. While representing increased costs compared to the previous free travel for under-5s, the graduated approach provides better value than the sudden jump to 50% at age 5.

Financial advisor Sunita Rao recommends: “Families should recalculate typical travel budgets, particularly those with children who previously traveled free but will now require 25% fare tickets.

For families who travel frequently, the annual difference could be significant enough to warrant adjusting travel funds allocation.”

Booking Process Adjustments

The additional documentation requirements will inevitably extend the booking process, particularly during the transition period. Railway officials recommend allocating extra time for both online and counter bookings while the systems and procedures stabilize.

“For the first few months, we’re advising passengers to complete bookings well in advance and avoid last-minute reservations when possible,” suggests Kumar.

“The verification processes will become more efficient as both passengers and staff adjust to the requirements, but initial transactions will likely take longer than travelers are accustomed to.”

Child Tickets Looking Forward: Expected Impact and System Evolution

Railway officials anticipate these changes will generate approximately ₹380 crore in additional annual revenue while creating more equitable space allocation aboard trains.

The documentation requirements, while creating short-term adjustment challenges, should reduce on-board disputes and create more predictable travel experiences.

“The fundamental goal is providing appropriate space and service for passengers of all ages while ensuring the system remains financially sustainable,” explains Desai.

“These measured adjustments balance passenger needs with operational realities in ways that should benefit the overall travel experience once the transition period concludes.”

For traveling families, the most significant long-term benefit may be the increased consistency and predictability in berth allocations, eliminating the uncertainty that has long complicated travel planning for those with children in the 5-12 age range.