Railways Diwali gift: Flexi fare removed from 15 trains

After drawing criticism for a long time, the railways have scrapped flexi fare only in a handful trains out of over 100 trains

vishwas

Vishwas Dass | November 1, 2018


#dynamic fare system   #train fare   #Indian Railways   #flexi fare  


In what could be seen as a relief to lakhs of passengers, Indian Railways has discontinued flexi or dynamic fare system in 15 trains having monthly occupancy of less than 50 percent. The decision would also be applicable for 32 trains, having monthly occupancy between 50-75 percent, but only for the lean period of three months.

To increase the occupancy of less patronised classes like AC 2, AC 3 and chair car class, 20 percent discount on last fare on all trains with flexi fare and Humsafar trains, having occupancy of less than 60 percent, will be given to passengers. 

The railways have also reduced maximum current cap of 1.5 times to 1.4 times in all classes. The rationalisation of flexi fare decision is based on the recommendation of an eight member committee, Comptroller and Auditor General’s report and representations from passengers. 
 
According to dynamic fare system, the base fare increases by 10 percent with every 10 percent of berths booked by the passengers, subject to a prescribed limit. There was no change in the existing fare for first AC and economy class.

Flexi Fare removed from below mentioned trains in 2018-19

Train no. Train type Train Name
12006 Shatabdi Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi
12012 Shatabdi Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi
12037 Shatabdi New Delhi-Ludhiana Shatabdi
12038 Shatabdi Ludhiana-New Delhi Shatabdi
12043 Shatabdi Moga(Ludhiana)-New Delhi Shatabdi
12044 Shatabdi New Delhi-Moga(Ludhiana) Shatabdi
12047 Shatabdi New Delhi-Bhatinda Shatabdi
12048 Shatabdi Bhatinda-New Delhi Shatabdi
12085 Shatabdi Guwahati-Dibrugarh Shatabdi
12086 Shatabdi Dibrugarh-Guwahati Shatabdi
12087 Shatabdi Naharlagun-Guwahati Shatabdi
12088 Shatabdi Guwahati-Naharlagun Shatabdi
12277 Shatabdi Howrah-Puri Shatabdi
22205 Duronto Chennai-Madurai Duronto
22206 Duronto Madurai-Chennai Duronto
 
As an instance, a chair car ticket of New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi costs around Rs 800 but when a passenger books the same ticket just a few days before the train’s departure, the same would cost him between Rs 1,200-Rs 1,400 under flexi fare.
 
The railways have been drawing extensive criticism ever since it rolled out flexi fare system on September 9, 2016 for over 150 Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duranto class trains. The national transporter earns huge revenue from flexi fare. A lot of passengers criticised the railways for levying flexi fare and not mending basic amenities like food quality, cleanliness and hygienic bedsheets and blankets among others.

List of trains with occupancy between 50-75% from which flexi fare will be removed in lean period of 2018-19

Train No. Train Name
12005 KALKA SHATABDI            
12014 AMRITSAR SHATABDI 
12016 AJMER SHATABDI            
12018 DEHRADUN SHATABDI         
12020 SHATABDI EXPRESS
12025 SHATABDI EXP            
12026 PUNE SHATABDI           
12030 SWARNA SHATABDI           
12031 AMRITSAR SHATABDI         
12032 AMRITSAR SHATABDI         
12039 KGM NDLS SHT            
12041 SHATABDI EXPRESS   
12042 NJP HWH SHATABDI        
12045 NDLS CDG SHATABDI         
12046 CDG NDLS SHATABDI         
12213 DURONTO EXPRESS         
12214 YPR DURONTO EXP         
12219 SC DURONTO EXP          
12223 LTT ERS DURONTO         
12224 ERS LTT DURONTO         
12227 INDORE DURONTO          
12228 MUMBAI DURONTO          
12239 JAIPUR DURONTO          
12240 JP MMCT DURONTO         
12243 SHATABDI EXP            
12244 SHATABDI EXP            
12278 SHATABDI EXPRESS         
12437 RAJDHANI EXP            
12441 BSP NDLS RAJ EX         
12442 BILASPUR RJDHNI         
12453 RNC NDLS RAJ EXP        
22414 NZM MAO RAJ             

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