Indian Railways: The Ministry of Railways started a discount programme on Saturday for all trains with AC seating accommodations, including Anubhuti & Vistadome Coaches, in the AC Chair Car and Executive Classes. According to the ministry, the discount component can only be up to a quarter of the base rate.
Additional Fees Assessed Separately for Discounted Fares
Other fees, if any, will be assessed separately. The railways advised that any train with less than 50% occupancy in any class for the previous 30 days (whether end-to-end or in some designated legs or parts) would be taken into account. It stated that the discount will go into effect right away. However, travellers who have already made reservations won’t be eligible for a refund of the reduced price. When a train’s occupancy is low and the flexi fare system is applicable to a specific class, the programme may initially be discontinued in an effort to improve occupancy. On special trains launched as holiday/festival specials, etc., this policy shall not apply. The Ministry of Railways has agreed to grant Zonal Railways the authority to implement a discounted fare programme on trains with AC sitting accommodations in order to maximise the usage of space in trains, subject to the following terms and conditions:
Applicability of the Discounted Fare scheme
This programme will be available in all trains with AC sitting accommodations, including Anubhuti and Vistadome coaches, in the AC Chair Car and Executive classes. The portion of the discount shall not exceed 25% of the basic fare. Other fees, such as the reservation fee, the super fast premium, the GST, etc., will be assessed individually. Based on occupancy, the discount may be offered in any or all classes. In order to determine which legs or portions will receive the discount, the train with classes that had an occupancy rate of less than 50% over the previous 30 days will be taken into account. The costs of competing modes of transportation must be taken into consideration when determining the amount of the discount. If occupancy is less than 50% in that leg, section, or end-to-end, as the case may be, the discount may be applied to the first leg, last leg, intermediate sections, or end-to-end portions of the trip. The discount shall go into effect right away. However, travellers who have already made reservations are not eligible for a fare refund. A maximum of six months may pass for journey dates from the time the discount is first introduced, as determined by PCCMs of the zones corresponding to the train’s originating station.
Discounted Fares Tailored to Demand and Duration
Based on the demand for the aforementioned period, discounted fares may be offered for the entire length, a portion of the duration, month by month, seasonally, or for weekdays/weekends. Discounts in fare may be offered for trains with inter-zonal O-D pairings or destinations after consulting with PCCMs of other Zonal Railways/Managing Directors or, in the case of KRCL, COM/CCM. The discount may be changed, extended, or eliminated based on subsequent reviews that must be conducted on a regular basis. If it is decided to modify the discount or withdraw the programme, the change may also be made with immediate effect.
No Additional Charges for Already Reserved Passengers
However, passengers who have already made reservations cannot be charged or collected for any fare difference. The flexi fare plan may be initially withdrawn as a strategy to improve occupancy in the instance of trains if it is applicable in a certain class but there is low occupancy. If occupancy does not increase as a result, a discount programme might then be implemented in those trains or classes. Tickets purchased with PTOs, fee differences on rail passes, concessionary coupons, MLA and ex-MLA coupons, warrants, MPs and ex-MPs, freedom warriors, etc., must be purchased at the original class-based fare, not at a discounted rate. If the discount is offered end-to-end, no tatkal quota shall be reserved on such trains for the chosen time period. Additionally, tatkal quota may not be offered for the portion of the train’s route where a discount is offered if one is offered for the entire voyage. The discount is only valid for existing bookings and tickets purchased up until the compilation of the first chart. TTE might also let you take advantage of the discount onboard. On special trains launched as holiday/festival specials, etc., this method shall not apply. This scheme’s provisions are valid for a year at a time.
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