<p class="title">As a part of its move to hand over certain trains to private players, the railways has decided that IRCTC will run the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express as test cases, sources said on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways have given IRCTC the "flexibility" to decide on the passenger fare on these trains, they said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to a blueprint prepared by the Railway Board to hand over the two trains to the railways' tourism and catering arm for a period of three years as a pilot project, no concessions, privileges or duty passes will be allowed on these trains.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways also said onboard ticket checking on IRCTC trains will not be done by the railway staff.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, it said the trains will be uniquely numbered and operated by the railways' operating staff -- loco, pilots, guards and station masters. The services of these two trains will be at par with the Shatabdi Express trains and given a similar priority, the sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bringing in private train operators to provide world-class passenger service was a proposal mooted by the railways in its 100-day plan. Sources said handing over the two Tejas Express trains to IRCTC was the first step towards that.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will have the rights for advertisements inside and outside the coaches, including branding of the trains. It can also make modifications inside the rake without affecting its structural safety.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will be allowed to use the railways' web portal for ticketing for a year and the revenue accounts of these two trains would be maintained separately, the sources said. The Railway Board has instructed IRCTC to develop its own ticketing system simultaneously.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The trains will have 18 coaches each. However, IRCTC will be allowed to run the trains with a minimum of 12 coaches for a period of one year. The haulage charges would be calculated per trip, based on the number of coaches used on each trip or 12 coaches, whichever is higher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will also pay for the custody of trains, including spares.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Railway Board has, however, clarified that in case of an accident, the IRCTC passengers will be treated at par with railway passengers and will be eligible for accident-related claims. It will also provide assistance and restoration in case of an accident.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways will also provide maintenance for the trains.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two trains will run six days a week. </p>
<p class="title">As a part of its move to hand over certain trains to private players, the railways has decided that IRCTC will run the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Tejas Express and the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express as test cases, sources said on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways have given IRCTC the "flexibility" to decide on the passenger fare on these trains, they said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to a blueprint prepared by the Railway Board to hand over the two trains to the railways' tourism and catering arm for a period of three years as a pilot project, no concessions, privileges or duty passes will be allowed on these trains.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways also said onboard ticket checking on IRCTC trains will not be done by the railway staff.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, it said the trains will be uniquely numbered and operated by the railways' operating staff -- loco, pilots, guards and station masters. The services of these two trains will be at par with the Shatabdi Express trains and given a similar priority, the sources said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bringing in private train operators to provide world-class passenger service was a proposal mooted by the railways in its 100-day plan. Sources said handing over the two Tejas Express trains to IRCTC was the first step towards that.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will have the rights for advertisements inside and outside the coaches, including branding of the trains. It can also make modifications inside the rake without affecting its structural safety.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will be allowed to use the railways' web portal for ticketing for a year and the revenue accounts of these two trains would be maintained separately, the sources said. The Railway Board has instructed IRCTC to develop its own ticketing system simultaneously.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The trains will have 18 coaches each. However, IRCTC will be allowed to run the trains with a minimum of 12 coaches for a period of one year. The haulage charges would be calculated per trip, based on the number of coaches used on each trip or 12 coaches, whichever is higher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">IRCTC will also pay for the custody of trains, including spares.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Railway Board has, however, clarified that in case of an accident, the IRCTC passengers will be treated at par with railway passengers and will be eligible for accident-related claims. It will also provide assistance and restoration in case of an accident.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The railways will also provide maintenance for the trains.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two trains will run six days a week. </p>