Circular Journey Ticket - Commercial Notes

 

Circular Journey Ticket

A Circular Journey Ticket is 

• issued for a journey, other than an ordinary return journey

• which starts and ends at the same station

• covers several destinations en route

• especially useful for pilgrimage, sightseeing and multi-destination tours.

Features

Feature	Rule / Practical Meaning
Maximum breaks	Up to 8 break journeys / break stations are permitted.
Same station	The journey begins and ends at the same originating station.
Class of travel	The ticket may be issued for all classes of travel.
Endorsement	Separate break-journey endorsement at every halt station is not required.
Route choice	A passenger may use a standard circular route notified by a Zonal Railway or submit a proposed itinerary to the Divisional Office.
Fare basis	The total circular distance is divided into two equal halves and charged as two single journeys. Reservation charges and Superfast supplementary charges are extra.
Validity	Journey days: 1 day for every 400 km or part thereof. Break-journey days: 1 day for every 200 km or part thereof. Both are added.
Not an ordinary return	A return journey by the shortest route, or by a route up to 15% longer than the shortest route, is not treated as a Circular Journey Ticket.

2. Practical Interpretation: One approved ticket covers the complete circular route, but seat/berth reservation is required separately for each reserved leg. Reservation and Superfast charges are therefore collected separately wherever applicable. The passenger must sign and date the ticket when commencing the journey.

3. Practical Example - How Fare and Validity Are Worked Out

• Illustrative itinerary: Secunderabad - Vijayawada - Tirupati - Bengaluru - Secunderabad

• Assumed approved circular distance: 1,600 km  |  Break stations: 3

• Fare calculation: 1,600 / 2 = 800 km. Fare is charged as two single journeys of 800 km each. Reservation and Superfast charges are added separately for the relevant legs.

• Validity calculation: Journey days = 1,600 / 400 = 4 days; Break-journey days = 1,600 / 200 = 8 days; Total validity = 12 days.

Note: This example explains only the calculation method. Actual distance, route approval and fare are determined by the Railway office.

 4. How to Obtain a Circular Journey Ticket

1	Select a standard circular route offered by the Zonal Railway, or prepare your own proposed itinerary with the required break stations.
2	Approach the concerned Divisional Office for route approval, distance calculation and preparation of the Circular Journey Ticket.
3	After issue of the ticket, obtain separate seat/berth reservations for the required legs and pay the applicable reservation and Superfast charges.

5. Difference from an Ordinary Single-Journey Ticket

Point	Ordinary Single-Journey Ticket	Circular Journey Ticket
Permitted distance	Break facility applies only when the journey exceeds 500 km.	Designed for an approved circular itinerary beginning and ending at the same station.
Number of breaks	>500 km and up to 1,000 km: 1 break. More than 1,000 km: maximum 2 breaks.	Maximum 8 break journeys.
First break	Normally only after travelling 500 km from the starting station.	No such 500 km commencement restriction.
Duration of halt	Maximum 2 days at each break station, excluding arrival and departure days.	Governed by the overall validity calculated for the Circular Journey Ticket.
Endorsement	Break-journey endorsement is normally required.	No separate break-journey endorsement is required.

6. Examination Point

Ordinary single journey exceeding 1,000 km	2 breaks
Circular Journey Ticket	8 breaks

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