Book Train Tickets with Points: IRCTC SBI Card vs Scapia Coins
Two easy ways to pay for Indian Railways tickets with points: IRCTC SBI card points at ₹1 each, or Scapia Coins at ₹0.20. Earn rates, fees and which suits you.
3 min read · Published 13 November 2026 · Checked
Short answer
Short answer: Indian Railways has no loyalty programme of its own, but you can pay for tickets with points two ways. The IRCTC SBI Card Premier earns 10 points per ₹125 on AC train tickets (about 8% back), and each point is worth ₹1 on IRCTC. Scapia lets you book trains in its app and pay with Scapia Coins (5 Coins = ₹1), which you earn on everyday spending.
Side by side
| IRCTC SBI Card Premier | Scapia (Federal) card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | ₹1,499 + GST (waived on ₹2 lakh spend) | Lifetime free |
| Earn on train tickets | 10 points per ₹125 on AC classes (≈ 8%) | Check the in-app rate for trains |
| Earn on other spends | 1 point per ₹125 (≈ 0.8%) | 10% in Coins on eligible Visa spends (= 2%) |
| Point value | ₹1 on IRCTC | ₹0.20 in the Scapia app |
| Where you can redeem | IRCTC train and air bookings | Scapia app: trains, buses, flights, hotels |
| Fee relief | 1 percentage point off IRCTC's card fee on rail bookings | n/a |
Who should use which
- You take AC trains often (Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, 3AC overnight): the IRCTC SBI card earns fastest on the tickets themselves.
- You mostly spend on groceries, shopping and food, and want those points to pay for a train or bus later: Scapia earns 2% on everyday spends, which you can use on trains.
- You travel by bus and train, like a Delhi–Uttarakhand weekend: Scapia covers both. See how Scapia Coins paid for a bus to Kasar Devi.
How redemption works
IRCTC SBI card
- Points move to your IRCTC loyalty account on the 15th of each month.
- Book on IRCTC and choose to redeem loyalty points. 1 point = ₹1.
- The SBI Card rewards catalogue isn't the redemption route for this card.
Scapia
- In the Scapia app, open Trains and search your route.
- Switch on Use Scapia Coins at checkout. Coins can cover the whole booking.
- Pay any balance with the card to earn more Coins.
Watch-outs
- IRCTC charges a fee on credit-card bookings. The SBI card waives only 1 percentage point of it, so you still pay the rest.
- The 8% figure applies to AC classes. Sleeper-class tickets earn the base rate.
- Compare the final fare in the Scapia app with IRCTC, including convenience fees, before you book.
FAQ
Can I use HDFC or Axis points for train tickets? Some bank portals offer train bookings, but the value is often lower than on flights and hotels. Check your bank's current rate.
Do LTC tickets earn points? If your department books tickets on government account, there's nothing for you to earn or redeem. Our LTC guide covers the rules.
Checked 13 November 2026. Confirm current terms with SBI Card, IRCTC and Scapia.
Sources: CardAdvisor: IRCTC SBI Card Premier · Scapia: Coins · Scapia: Trains and Visas launch
Written by
PerkNavigate Editorial Team
Figures checked on 13 November 2026. Point values change; confirm in the programme's own app before you transfer or redeem. Not financial advice (disclaimer).