Dynamic fares on high-speed trains from tomorrow

The Railways will introduce a dynamic fare system for Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains from Friday, which could hike the fares up to 50%.  Under the new system, the fares in all classes, except I-AC and Executive Class (EC), will increase by 10% with every 10% of berths sold, subject to a ceiling limit of 50% of the base fare.

The I-AC class has been exempted to remain competitive with air fares. The revised fares will not apply to tickets already issued for journeys, which commence on or after September 9. Modelled on the dynamic fare system in vogue in the aviation sector, the Railways is expecting about Rs 500 crore revenue through the new system being implemented for 42 Rajdhani, 46 Shatabdi and 54 Duronto trains.

The passenger revenue target for the current fiscal is Rs 51,000 crore as against Rs 45,000 crore in the last fiscal, an increase of Rs 6,000 crore for 2016-17.

“We are introducing the flexi-fare system which is dynamic in nature in these trains on an experimental basis and it will be reviewed after three to four months,” Railway Board Member Mohd Jamshed told PTI.

Also, there shall be no change in supplementary charges, reservation fee, superfast surcharge, catering charges, service tax, refund rules etc. Such charges, wherever applicable, shall continue to be levied additionally.

Vacant berths at the time of charting would be offered for current booking, and tickets under current booking shall be sold at the last price sold for that class.

No additional charges will be levied for Tatkal Quota. The berths assigned under the Tatkal quota shall be booked at the rate of 1.5 times of the base fare for all classes except 1AC and EC. However, there shall be no Premium Tatkal Quota in these services. Normal concession as applicable for the respective concessional tickets will be admissible on the base fare.