What are the Best Railway Lounge Access Credit Cards in India in 2026?

What Are The Top Railways Lounge Access Credit Cards?

Here are 5 other credit cards that  offer railway lounge access. Four of these cards need no minimum spends to access railway lounges. They are as follows -

ixigo AU Credit Card

When you apply for an ixigo AU Bank credit card, you can choose either the RuPay or Visa option. You can apply for this card through AU Bank’s website or ixigo’s website.  

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • NIL; this is a lifetime free card

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 16 complimentary railway lounge access through the year

  • Get 1000 reward points on one successful transaction within the first 30 days of card issuance

  • Get ₹1000 ixigo money on one successful transaction within the first 30 days of card issuance

  • Zero forex markup fee

  • Insurance cover of up to ₹2 Lakh on RuPay cards

  • 24/7 concierge services with RuPay cards

  • 5 points for every ₹200 spent online and via CC on UPI

  • 5 points for every ₹200 spent offline

  • 5000 points on spending ₹75,000 per calendar quarter

  • 10% off on flights, hotels and buses

  • No payment gateway charges on train bookings

  • 2.5% reward points including UPI

  • 0 forex markup fee

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver

IRCTC SBI Card Premier

The IRCTC SBI Card Premier is a great credit card that offers 8 complimentary lounge access per year, without any minimum spend requirements. Learn more about this card -

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • ₹1,499 + Taxes

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 8 complimentary railway lounge access per year, maximum 2 per quarter

  • Get 1,500 reward points worth ₹1,500 on payment of first annual fee as welcome benefits

  • 2,500 reward points on annual travel spends of ₹50,000

  • 5,000 reward points on annual travel spends of ₹1 Lakh

  • Up to 10% value back as reward points on buying tickets through IRCTC App and website for AC1, AC2, AC3, Executive Chair Car and Chair Car.

  • 5% back on Air ticket purchases on www.air.irctc.co.in 

  • 5% back on e-catering purchases on www.ecatering.irctc.co.in 

  • 3 reward points per ₹125 spent on dining and standing instructions on utility spends

  • 1 reward point per ₹125 spent on other non-fuel retail purchases

  • Complimentary fraud liability cover of ₹1 Lakh

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India, on transactions of ₹500 to ₹4,000

  • Maximum waiver of ₹250 per statement cycle, per credit card account

HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card

The HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card is one of the railway lounge access credit cards. It allows 8 complimentary lounge access per year, maximum 2 per quarter. 

To be eligible for this card, you must be an Indian citizen. If you are salaried, you must have a monthly income of ₹25,000 and be between the ages of 21 and 60 years. If you are self-employed, your age should be between 21 and 65 years, and your annual income should be more than ₹6 Lakh annually.

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • ₹500 + Applicable Taxes

  • Spend ₹1,50,000 or more in a year, before your credit card renewal date, and get your renewal fee waived.

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 8 complimentary railway lounge access per year, maximum 2 per quarter

  • 5 reward points for every ₹100 spent on the IRCTC ticketing website and the Rail Connect App

  • Gift voucher worth ₹500 upon activating the card

  • 5% cashback on train ticket bookings via HDFC Bank SmartBuy

  • 1% Transaction charges waiver on transactions done on the IRCTC ticketing website and the Rail Connect App

  • 1 Reward Point for every ₹100 spent

  • 1000 cashback across 200+ brands on your credit card via Payzapp

  • Up to 50 days of interest-free credit from the date of purchase

  • Convert large transactions into a SmartEMI after purchase

  • Contactless payments 

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

• 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India

IRCTC SBI Platinum Credit Card

The IRCTC SBI Platinum credit card is an affordable card that offers 4 complimentary lounge access every year, maximum 1 every quarter. Here are more details about this card - 

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • ₹500 + Applicable Taxes

• Rewards & Benefits

  • 4 complimentary railway lounge access every year, maximum 1 every quarter 

  • 500 Reward Points on payment of renewal fee

  • Up to 10% value back as reward points on buying tickets through IRCT

  • 1 reward point for every ₹125 spent on non-fuel retail purchases, including railway ticket purchases at www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Android Mobile App 

  • Save 1% transaction charges on railway ticket bookings on www.irctc.co.in 

  • Get 1% of the total refund amount on railway ticket cancellations

  • Accepted at over 24 million outlets globally, including 3,25,000 in India

  • Convert eligible purchases into easy monthly EMIs, Applicable on transactions of ₹2,500 or more

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps in India on transactions of ₹500 to ₹3000

  • Maximum waiver of ₹100 per statement cycle per cc account

AU Vetta Credit Card

AU Bank’s Vetta Credit Card is a mid-range credit card. To be eligible for this card you should be an Indian resident. If you are self-employed, your age should be between 25 and 65 years, whereas salaried people should be aged between 21 and 60 years. Add-on card holders are just required to be over 18 years of age.

• Joining & Annual Fee

  • ₹2,999 + Taxes 

  • Spend ₹40,000 on retail within 90 days of card set up and get the first year’s fee waiver

  • Spend ₹1,50,000 on retail in the previous card anniversary year to get your second year onwards fee waived

• Rewards & Benefits

  • Total 8 complimentary railway lounge access, 2 per calendar quarter

  • 4 reward points per ₹100 spent on grocery and departmental stores

  • 2 reward points per ₹100 retail spends on other merchant categories

  • 1 reward point per ₹100 spent on insurance, utility & telecom

  • 500 bonus reward points on ₹50,000 retail spends per quarter and additional 1,000 bonus reward points on reaching ₹1 Lakh retail spends per quarter

  • Vouchers worth ₹1,000 on a minimum spending of ₹2.5 Lakh in a year

  • Earn 1,000 bonus reward points on completing any retail transaction on your birthday

  • 1 complimentary lounge access per calendar quarter within India, on a minimum spend of ₹50,000 in a calendar quarter

  • 4 complimentary international airport lounge access annually (1 per quarter) using your Priority Pass

  • Dedicated concierge services

  • Air accident cover of ₹50 Lakh, Credit shield of ₹5 Lakh, and Purchase protection worth ₹25,000

  • Easy EMI options available on transactions worth ₹2,000 or more

  • Pin-free payments at participating merchants up to ₹5,000

  • Avail 2 Complimentary domestic flights seats booking (max value of up to INR 350) and Flat 15% off on select domestic hotels as MyCash

• Fuel Surcharge Waiver

  • 1% Fuel surcharge waiver (up to ₹250) for transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 at all fuel stations across the country

What Facilities Do IRCTC Executive Railway Lounges Offer?

IRCTC executive railway lounges offer an air-conditioned, secure alternative to crowded station platforms. When you enter using an eligible credit card, your ₹2 validation swipe grants access to a standard 2-hour stay package:

• Comfortable AC Seating

Reclining chairs, sofa lounges, and quiet waiting spaces equipped with charging points for phones and laptops.

• Complimentary Buffet Meal

Depending on your time of arrival, you receive a free hot meal (Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea, or Dinner) alongside unlimited tea, coffee, and packaged drinking water.

• High-Speed Wi-Fi & Entertainment

Free internet access to stream videos or work while waiting for delayed trains.

• Clean Washrooms & Shower Facilities

Well-maintained restrooms. (Note: Specialized shower kits and private resting pods may incur minor separate charges).

Which Locations in India Have Functional Executive Lounges?

IRCTC and private partners operate executive lounges across major railway junctions, with new locations opening continuously:

• Northern Region

  • New Delhi

  • Hazrat Nizamuddin 

  • Anand Vihar Terminal

  • Agra Cantt 

  • Varanasi Junction 

  • Lucknow Charbagh 

• Western Region

  • Jaipur Junction 

  • Ahmedabad Junction 

  • Madgaon Junction

• Eastern & Central Region

  • Sealdah 

  • Howrah 

  • Vijayawada Junction 

• Southern Region

  • Madurai Junction 

  • Visakhapatnam 

  • Bengaluru City 

Conclusion