Most people think credit cards are only for luxury travel, airport lounges, and international flights.
Well, let’s be real – not everyone flies business class every month.
At Milesly, we believe credit cards are not just for frequent flyers or luxury travellers. They are for everyone as long as you pick the one that fits your lifestyle and spending habits.
While there are plenty of cards out there focused on air travel, what about something more relatable and closer to home?
Yes, our very own Indian Railways.
After all, Indian Railways carried 6.9 billion passengers in 2023-24! That’s a huge number. So, shouldn’t there be a credit card that rewards rail travellers too? Yes, there is!
The IRCTC SBI Premier Credit Card is designed just for that. It offers value back on train bookings, milestone rewards, and even complimentary travel insurance.
And that’s just the beginning.
In this detailed review, we will explore all the key features, benefits, fees, pros and cons, and we have even added a comparison table at the end to help you make the best choice.
So, ready to explore what makes this card a perfect companion for your railway journeys?
Let’s get started!
Features & Benefits of the IRCTC SBI Card Premier
Here’s a quick breakdown of the perks that make this card worth considering:
1. Welcome Bonus
Receive 1,500 Reward Points worth ₹1,500 once you pay the joining fee.
2. Milestone Benefits
You get:
| Rewards | Spent Amount | For |
| 2,500 Reward Points | ₹50,000 | Travel |
| 5,000 Reward Points | ₹1,00,000 | Travel |
Let’s assume you spend 1 Lakhs specifically on travel-related expenses like airline bookings, lounges and car rental services.
That’s 7500 rs in additional/bonus return in reward – straight 7.5% as milestone benefit and cherry on the top you will also be earning welcome bonus as well as the regular reward points.
3. Reward Structure:
| Rewards Earned | Amount Spent | Category |
| 10 Reward Points | ₹100 | Railway Tickets (with dates of travel between January 15 – March 31 and July 15 – September 15) |
| 4 Reward Points | ₹100 | Railway Tickets (with dates of travel between April 1 – July 14 and September 16 – January 14) |
| 3 Reward Points | ₹125 | Dine outs and utilities |
| 1 Reward Point | ₹125 | All retail purchases except fuel |
Note: Only AC1, AC2, AC3, EC and CC category tickets are eligible for the earning program.
Let’s Break Down the Reward Structure with a Simple Example
Suppose your total yearly spending is around ₹10 lakhs, which is quite common if you’re managing a household, love dining out, or travel often.
Now let’s break it down to see how many reward points you can actually earn with the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card:
₹2 lakhs on train ticket bookings can help you earn 14,000 reward points
₹1 lakh on dining out could earn up to 2,400 reward points
₹7 lakhs on retail and everyday purchases can earn 5,600 reward points
+ 75,00 bonus points you earned for achieving this milestone!
Total Reward Points Earned in a Year: 29,500
But, what’s the real value of these 29,500 Points?
No fluff answer. You can redeem all these reward points directly for AC train ticket bookings on the IRCTC website or app.
And the best part? 1 reward point = ₹1 in value when used for IRCTC bookings.
So, just by channelling your spending with the right medium, you can get ₹29,500 worth of free train travel.
Sounds like a win-win? We think so, too!
4. Travel Benefits
- 8 complimentary railway lounge visits for primary cardholders every year.
Note: Visits are capped at 2 per quarter.
- Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings through IRCTC.
- Save 1.8% transaction charges on airline ticket bookings with IRCTC.
- Provides a complimentary insurance with the following:
| Rail Accident Cover | ₹10 Lakhs |
| Air Accident Cover | ₹50 Lakhs |
| Fraud Liability Cover | ₹1 Lakh |
5. Additional Benefits
- Avail 1% fuel surcharge on transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000 at all fuel stations across India.
Note: Maximum ₹250 can be waived per statement cycle.
6. Reward Exclusions
- Vouchers payments
- Fuel transactions
- Utility bill payments
- Wallet reloads
- cash withdrawals
- Government transactions
Fees And Charges
What you may have to pay for getting access to the features of the IRCTC SBI Card Premier:
| Joining Fee | ₹1,499 + GST | Nil for add-on cardholders |
| Renewal Fee | ₹1,499 + GST | Nil for add-on cardholders |
| Cash Withdrawal Fee | 2.5% | Minimum ₹500 at domestic ATMs |
| Interest Charges | 3.5% Per Month | 42% per annum |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to ₹500: No fees ₹501 to ₹1,000 = ₹400 ₹1,001 to ₹10,000 = ₹750 ₹10,001 to ₹25,000 = ₹950 ₹25,001 to ₹50,000 = ₹1,100 Over ₹50,000 = ₹1,300 | |
| Overlimit Fee | 2.5% | Minimum ₹500 |
| Forex Charges | 3.5% | On all international spends |
| Card Replacement Fee | ₹100 |
Pros And Cons
A straightforward table highlighting the pros and cons of the IRCTC SBI Card Premier:
| Pros | Cons |
| Earn up to 10% value back on AC class railway bookings through IRCTC. | Many categories are excluded from the reward earning program |
| Receive bonus Reward Points on reaching annual travel spends. | Earned Points provide the best value only if redeemed for booking with IRCTC. |
| 8 complimentary railway lounge access annually. | Lounge Access has limitations of 2 visits per quarter. |
| Offers comprehensive insurance coverage. | High Forex charges of 3.5% on international transactions. |
| The annual fee is waived on spending of 2 lakhs or more in a year. | No access to airport lounges. |
Comparison Table with Similar Credit Cards in Segment:
Here’s a quick comparison of the IRCTC SBI Card Premier with its competitors:
| Feature | IRCTC SBI Card Premier | HDFC Bank IRCTC Credit Card | ICICI Coral Credit Card |
| Joining Fee | ₹1,499 | ₹500 + GST | ₹500 + GST |
| Welcome Bonus | 1,500 Bonus Reward Points | HDFC SmartBuy Gift voucher worth ₹500 | N/A |
| Rewards | 10 Reward Points per ₹100 spent | 5 reward points on every ₹100 spent on rail tickets through IRCTC. | Earn 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent |
| Lounge Access | 8 railway lounges per year | 8 Railway lounge visits per year | 1 domestic airport lounge + 1 railway lounge visits per quarter |
| Extra Benefits | Comprehensive travel insurance is included. | 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on all eligible transactions | 15% discount on dining bills at over 2,500 partner restaurants across India |
Milesly’s Take:
If you are someone who frequently travels on trains, this card is meant for you. You are already spending money on train travel, so why not get rewarded for it? The 10% value back on AC ticket bookings is a solid perk, and the railway lounge access is a game-changer for those long waits at stations. Plus, milestone rewards and insurance benefits add extra value.
But is it all sunshine and savings? Not exactly. The ₹1,499 annual fee is fine if you travel often, but if you’re not booking enough to hit the ₹2 lakh waiver mark, it might not be worth it. And while railway lounge access is great, airport travelers might feel left out. Also, if you don’t pay off your dues on time, the interest rates might feel challenging.
That said, if Indian Railways is your go-to for travel, this card is a no-brainer. But if you’re looking for a broader travel card with air travel perks, you might want to explore other options. Milelsy’s Best Card tool can help you with it.
Pro Tip: Subscribe to Milesly’s newsletter to stay updated with the latest travel hacks and reward programs.
FAQs
Q. Can I use this card for non-travel expenses?
Yes, you can use it for shopping, dining, and other expenses, but rewards are best for train-related spending.
Q. Does this card offer cashback instead of reward points?
No, it offers reward points that can be redeemed only for travel expenses.
Q. Is there a minimum spending requirement to earn reward points?
No, but higher spending on train tickets and travel earns more points.
Q. Does this card offer EMI options for large purchases?
Yes, SBI provides EMI conversion options on eligible transactions.
Q. Can I add an add-on cardholder for this credit card?
Yes, SBI allows add-on cards for family members.
Q. Is this card available for NRIs?
No, it is primarily for Indian residents with a valid income source.
Q. What happens if I lose my card?
You should immediately report it to SBI Card customer care to block and replace it.
Q. Can I increase my credit limit on this card?
Yes, SBI may offer a limit increase based on your spending and payment history.
Q. Does this card offer any airport lounge access?
No, it only provides complimentary access to railway lounges, not airport lounges.
