The Indian Railways has officially cancelled the provision for private booking of officer saloons, a major decision aimed at restoring the exclusivity and dignity of these special carriages. The decision was formalized by the Railway Board on August 22, 2026. This directive requires all regional headquarters, including the North Eastern Railway and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, to cease private bookings immediately with no exceptions. Here are the key highlights of this policy change:
– Formal cancellation announced on August 22, 2026 by the Railway Board.
– All regional headquarters and IRCTC must stop private bookings immediately.
– External individuals are no longer permitted to reserve railway saloons for personal travel.
– Viral social media video showing religious rituals inside a saloon triggered the policy reversal.
Background of the Private Saloon Booking Policy
The facility that allowed external individuals to book these exclusive railway saloons was originally introduced in 2019. The primary goal back then was to boost railway revenue by monetizing luxury carriages. Under the previous policy, a notable instance occurred within the North Eastern Railway zone, where a Gorakhpur-based businessman famously booked two saloons to transport his family on a leisure and pilgrimage trip to Varanasi.
Reasons Behind the Immediate Revocation
Industry observers and senior railway officials note that this strict policy reversal follows growing scrutiny over the casual usage of these prestigious carriages. A recent viral video circulating widely on social media depicted a private party performing religious rituals inside a railway saloon. This incident drew heavy criticism and is widely considered the ultimate catalyst for the Railway Board’s swift decision to permanently discontinue the commercial practice. With this new mandate now fully in effect, private entities and citizens will never again be able to experience luxury train travel through these official officer carriages.