What does a child’s train ticket cost?
For a child between 5 and 11 the entire question is the berth. Without one you pay half fare; with one you pay exactly what an adult pays. There is no half-fare berth, and that is the detail most people discover at the payment screen.
One adult ticket, from IRCTC. Leave blank to see the rules without amounts.
Travellers
Age in completed years on the date of journey, not today.
Fares are calculated as a share of the adult fare you entered. The real ticket can differ slightly, because reservation and superfast charges are not always scaled the same way as the base fare.
The three age bands
| Age on date of journey | Fare | Berth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | Free | None — shares with an adult |
| 5 to under 12, no berth | Half the adult fare | None — shares with an adult |
| 5 to under 12, with berth | Full adult fare | A berth of their own |
| 12 and over | Full adult fare | A berth of their own |
Since 2020 a child aged 5 to under 12 who is given a separate berth pays the full adult fare. Choosing a berth for that child costs the same as an adult ticket.
Child ticket questions
Do children travel free on Indian Railways?
A child under 5 years on the date of journey travels free and needs no ticket, but is not given a berth or seat of their own. They share with an accompanying adult for the whole journey.
What is the child ticket age limit?
Under 5 is free. From 5 to under 12 there is a choice: half fare with no separate berth, or full fare with a berth. From 12 years, full adult fare with a berth, and no half-fare option.
Why does my 8 year old cost the same as an adult?
Because you asked for a berth. Since 2020, a child aged 5 to 11 who is allotted a separate berth pays the full adult fare. Half fare is available only if the child travels without their own berth. There is no half-fare berth.
Should I book a berth for my child?
It depends entirely on the journey. On an overnight train, two people sharing one berth is a long night, and the full fare is usually worth paying. On a daytime run of a few hours, half fare and sharing is the sensible choice.
Which age counts — at booking or at travel?
The age on the date of journey. A child who turns 5 or 12 between booking and travelling is treated by their age on the travel date, so check it before charting rather than after.
Do I have to declare a child under 5?
Yes, the child's details should be entered in the booking even though no fare is charged and no berth is allotted. Travelling with an undeclared child invites an argument with the TTE that you do not need.
Travelling with the family?
Check your luggage against the free allowance before you get to the platform.