How to Book Railway Retiring Rooms at Stations

Railway retiring rooms are affordable accommodation right inside the station premises. They're perfect for layovers between connecting trains, early morning arrivals before your hotel check-in, or when your train gets massively delayed. Available at most major stations across India, they're one of Railways' best-kept secrets.

What Are Retiring Rooms?

Retiring rooms are hotel-like rooms maintained by Indian Railways at railway stations. They come in different types:

• AC Rooms: Full air conditioning, attached bathroom, bed with linen, TV
• Non-AC Rooms: Fan, attached bathroom, bed with linen
• AC Dormitory: Shared hall with individual beds, AC, common bathroom
• Non-AC Dormitory: Shared hall, fan, common bathroom

The rooms are basic but clean (most of the time), and the location can't be beat — you're literally inside the station.

Rates (Approximate)

Room Type	Rate per 12 hours
AC Single Room	₹800-1,500
AC Double Room	₹1,000-2,000
Non-AC Single	₹400-800
Non-AC Double	₹500-1,000
AC Dormitory (per bed)	₹200-500
Non-AC Dormitory (per bed)	₹100-300

Rates vary by station and city. Metro station rooms (New Delhi, Mumbai CST) are pricier than smaller station rooms.

Billing is in 12-hour blocks. So if you check in at 8 PM and check out at 8 AM, that's one block. Exceeding 12 hours incurs the next block's charges.

Eligibility

You must have a valid train ticket (arriving or departing from that station) to book a retiring room. This means:

• You arrived at the station by train and need a rest before your next train
• You're departing from that station on a train within the next 24-48 hours
• Your train was cancelled/delayed and you need a place to wait

At the time of check-in, show your valid ticket (e-ticket or physical).

How to Book Online

IRCTC offers online booking for retiring rooms at select stations:

1. Go to irctc.co.in
2. Navigate to "Retiring Rooms" or "Hotels" section
3. Select the station where you want the room
4. Choose your check-in date and time
5. Select room type (AC/Non-AC, Single/Double/Dormitory)
6. Enter your PNR or ticket details
7. Make payment online
8. Confirmation is sent via SMS and email

Not all stations have online booking. Major stations (about 100+) support it.

How to Book at the Station

For stations without online booking, or if you need a room immediately:

1. Go to the Retiring Room office at the station (usually near the main entrance or platform 1)
2. Show your valid train ticket
3. Check availability
4. Fill out the register
5. Pay at the counter (cash or card at some stations)
6. Get the room key

Walk-in availability is first-come, first-served. During festival season or at busy junction stations, rooms fill up fast. Booking online in advance is recommended when possible.

Check-In and Check-Out Rules

• Check-in: Anytime, 24/7
• Check-out: 12 hours from check-in (extendable by paying for the next block)
• Maximum stay: 48 hours (can be extended in special cases)
• Visitors: Not allowed in rooms without valid train tickets
• Luggage: Can be left in the room during your stay

Stations With Good Retiring Rooms

Major stations with well-maintained retiring rooms:

Station	Room Quality	Online Booking
New Delhi	Good	Yes
Howrah (Kolkata)	Good	Yes
Mumbai CST	Decent	Yes
Chennai Central	Good	Yes
Bangalore City	Good	Yes
Jaipur Junction	Good	Yes
Varanasi Junction	Decent	Yes
Lucknow Charbagh	Good	Yes
Ahmedabad	Good	Yes
Bhopal	Decent	Yes

Tips

Book online for popular stations. New Delhi retiring rooms can be fully booked days in advance, especially during winter tourist season and festivals. Carry your own towel and toiletries. While linen is provided, towels and soap may not always be available. Don't expect hotel-level amenities. Check the room before accepting. If the room isn't clean or something isn't working (AC, geyser, bathroom), ask for another room or request cleaning. Dormitory beds are great for solo travelers. At ₹200-300 per bed, it's the cheapest legal accommodation in a city center. Just carry a padlock for the luggage locker provided. Use retiring rooms for layovers. If you have an 8-hour gap between trains at a junction, a 12-hour retiring room block gives you a place to shower, rest, and charge your devices.

Plan your connections and layovers using indianrail.app. Knowing your arrival and departure times helps you decide if a retiring room makes sense for the wait.