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Do you, too, frequently travel by train—whether for work or with your family? If so, there is a smart ticket-booking method that can significantly reduce your travel expenses. IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, has partnered with major banks across the country—such as HDFC Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda (BoB), and RBL Bank—to introduce exclusive co-branded credit cards. These cards have been specifically designed with frequent train travelers in mind—those who wish to avoid the additional costs typically associated with ticket bookings.

In this context, let us compare two such cards today—the IRCTC SBI Credit Card Premier and the IRCTC Bank of Baroda Credit Card—to determine which of the two offers greater benefits to travelers.

**Difference in Joining Fees**
There is a significant difference between the joining fees of the two cards. While you are required to pay ₹1,499 to obtain the SBI Premier card, the BoB card comes with a fee of ₹500. Furthermore, the renewal fees for both cards differ considerably; the renewal fee for the SBI Premier card stands at ₹1,499, whereas the fee for the Bank of Baroda card is a mere ₹350. Additionally, while the SBI card offers you 1,500 bonus points upon issuance, the BoB card also rewards you with 500 bonus points upon signing up. Payment Gateway Charges
1% waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings and 1.8% waiver on airline ticket bookings
1% waiver on IRCTC train ticket bookings

Cashback Rate
A maximum of 10 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on IRCTC train tickets
10 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on air tickets and e-catering
1 Reward Point = ₹1

3 Reward Points for every ₹125 spent on dining
1 Reward Point for every ₹125 spent on retail purchases (excluding fuel-related transactions)
A maximum of 10 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on IRCTC train tickets
1 Reward Point = ₹1
4 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent at grocery and departmental stores

Lounge Access
2 complimentary lounge visits per quarter
1 complimentary lounge visit per quarter

Other Benefits
1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps
Annual renewal fee is waived on spending up to ₹2 Lakhs
Complimentary insurance cover of ₹50 Lakhs for air accidents and ₹10 Lakhs for rail accidents

Cover of ₹1 Lakh in case of credit card fraud
1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps

Which Card Should You Choose?

If you travel frequently by train and are looking for cashback on air tickets in addition to rail tickets, the SBI Premier Card would be the right choice for you. However, if you are looking for a low-fee card and are interested in cashback solely on rail tickets, you may opt for the Bank of Baroda card.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.