Indian Railways Cuts Train Ticket Prices By Up To 25%, Including Vande Bharat; Details Here

The Indian Railways has decided to reduce fares of AC chair cars and executive classes of all trains, including Vande Bharat, and those with Anubhuti and Vistadome coaches, by up to 25 per cent, depending on occupancy, according to a Railway Board order. The fares will also depend on those of competitive modes of transport.

“This scheme shall be applicable in AC chair car and executive classes of all trains having AC seating accommodation, including Anubhuti and Vistadome coaches,” the Railway Board order stated.

It added that “the element of discount shall be up to a maximum 25 per cent on the basic fare. Other charges like reservation charge, super fast surcharge, GST, etc, as applicable, shall be levied separately. The discount may be provided in any or all the classes on the basis of occupancy”.

The rail ministry has decided to delegate powers to principal chief commercial managers of railway zones to introduce discounted fare schemes in trains with AC seating, with a view to optimising utilisation of accommodation.

According to the order, trains having “classes with occupancy less than 50 per cent (either end-to-end or in some specified legs/sections depending upon the sections where discount is to be provided) during the last 30 days shall be taken into consideration.”

The fares of competitive modes of transport will be the criteria while deciding the quantum of discount, it added. The discount can be given for the first and/or last leg of the journey and/or intermediate sections and/or end-to-end journey provided the occupancy is less than 50 per cent in that leg/section/end-to-end.

“The discount shall be implemented with immediate effect. However, no refund of fare shall be admissible for already booked passengers,” it said. In case of trains where flexi fare is applicable in a particular class and the occupancy is poor, the scheme can be withdrawn initially as a measure to increase the occupancy. This scheme will not be applicable on special trains introduced as holiday or festival specials.

(With Inputs From PTI)