Or, you find your train has arrived on the platform and you don’t have time to buy a ticket to travel to your destination?
Tough situation; neither you want to miss the train nor you have time to buy a ticket by standing in the queue.
But there’s a solution. You can travel by buying a platform ticket from the station and board the train that will take you to your destination.
What’s a platform ticket?
A platform ticket is a type of ticket issued by the railways, which can be bought from a railway station’s ticket counter before entering a platform. It’s meant to access a platform but not to board a train or use services provided by a train.
A platform ticket costs Rs 10 and is valid for one person only. It allows the person to access the platforms for a time period of two hours. However, if a passenger has a railway ticket on the same day, a platform ticket is not required.
Besides buying a platform ticket over the counter, it can be bought online through UTS App meant for booking railway tickets. But it can’t be bought through IRCTC site.
The platform ticket is proof that you boarded the train from a certain station and fare will be charged from that particular point up to the destination station.
It also clarifies the intention of a passenger that she/he is willing to travel with a valid ticket and due to an emergency failed to buy a travel ticket.
All you need to know if you’re travelling with a platform ticket
• A passenger needs to procure a Guard’s certificate of permission on the basis of platform ticket.
• Or, if in a hurry or due to want of time, one can directly board the train and get the required procedure done under the rules.
• A Guard’s certificate of permission is required to travel on a platform ticket and it’s issued by the guard, conductor or other categories of staff on duty as notified by the Railways.
• When a passenger owing to want of time is unable to purchase a ticket; Guard's Certificates will be issued in such cases at stations where platform tickets are issued, only on production of valid platform tickets.
• A Guard’s certificate is a provisional authority to travel on a platform ticket.
• It’s issued by the Guard before incurring any charge.
• The certificate is to be produced before the TTE to get a valid travel ticket.