Lok Sabha Question No. 2282 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Special Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SATYA PAL SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2282 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2017

## SPECIAL TRAINS

2282.   SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: DR. SATYAPAL SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number  of  special trains including Suvidha  trains run by the Government across the country during the last year and the current year;
- (b) whether the cases of misuse of reserved tickets have come to the notice of the Government in such trains during the said period and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  fare  of  such  trains  has  been  kept  higher  from  the  fare  of normal trains and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has received requests from various quarters not to charge higher fare in such trains during  the said period;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action  taken/being  taken by the Government on such requests so far; and
- (f) the other steps taken by the  Government in this direction?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  The  number  of  special  trains  trips  and  Suvidha  trains  trips  (including special fare trains)  run across the country during last year and current year are as under:

|   April 2015 to January 2016 (Approx.) |   April 2016 to January 2017 (Approx.) |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|                                  12185 |                                  14351 |

However, running of special trains on various sectors is an ongoing process and varies on day to day basis.

- (b)  Although  instances  of  misuse  of  reservation  system  by  unscrupulous elements do come to notice, however, separate train type-wise statistics of such complaints are not maintained.
- (c) With effect from 01.07.2015, Suvidha trains on variable fares have been introduced for meeting peak demand as may arise from time to time during summer,  winter,  festivals  and  on  other  occasions.  The  following  types  of Suvidha trains can be introduced:-

(i)  Fully air-conditioned services with or without stoppages. (ii)  Mixed  services  having  no  enroute  commercial  stoppages  on  mixed Duronto pattern. as

(iii) Mixed services having some  stoppages  enroute and running Mail/Express.

Apart from above, on the basis of demand, Zonal Railway can also run fully  air  conditioned Shatabdi/Double decker type Suvidha trains. Minimum fare  of  Suvidha  trains  is  equal  to  Tatkal  fare  applicable  for  the  class  of accommodation  for  initial  20%  of  the  berths  and  thereafter  the  fare increases  for  subsequent  slabs  of  20%  of  seats/berths  booked  subject  to maximum three times of the Tatkal fare.

Special  trains  on  special  charges  are  introduced  based  on  demand pattern  over  and  above  the  time-tabled  trains.  In  addition  to  Mail/Express fare for Time Tabled Trains, special charges are levied at the rate of 10% of basic fare for second class for reserved  accommodation  and 30% of basic fare  for  all  other  classes.    The    second    class    accommodation    of    such trains  can  be  declared  as  reserved  or  unreserved  and  charging  shall  be made accordingly. In case of unreserved second class accommodation, the fares as applicable to normal superfast Mail/Express trains will be applicable.

(d)  to  (f)  Representations/suggestions for reduction in the fares of Special trains/Suvidha trains have been received from various quarters.  At present, there is no proposal to reduce the fares of these trains.

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