Flexi fare system only in premium trains: Rlys

The Railway Ministry said on Sunday that flexi fare system will not be introduced for trains other than Rajdhani, Duranto and Shatabdi.

Addressing a press conference, Member (Traffic) of Railway Board Mohammad Jamshed said, “There is no proposal of any other fair rationalisation.”

The press conference was called to clear “misgivings” over the flexi fare system introduced in premium trains. Jamshed said the new fare system cannot be termed dynamic as there is a cap on every slab. In dynamic system, there is no such cap. It is purely demand- driven, he said.

He also said that the fare being charged in flexi system is still lower than air fare.

He gave a presentation on the comparison of fares in rail, flights and roadways and claimed that rail is still cheaper considering the service being provided in trains. 

In the new system, the fare will be increased by 10% with the selling of every 10% of berths. But the increase will not exceed 50% of the base fare.

The 1AC and chair car tickets are exempted from the increase.

“Our flexi fare system has got a good response and passengers have responded well to the scheme as there is about 30% booking in the last two days,” he said.

“The railways has earned Rs 84 lakh and Rs 81 lakh more on September 9 and 10 respectively from the flex fare system,” he said.