Lok Sabha Question No. 304 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Fare of Special Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ram Kripal Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## FARE OF SPECIAL TRAINS

## *304 SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV :

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether all the trains running at present are special trains and the fares are also higher than the previous ones;
- (b)   if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether there is any plan to restart all the trains and reduce the fares to pre COVID-19 pandemic level;
- (d)   if so, the details thereof;
- (e)    whether only ready-to-eat items are being sold in trains and if so, whether there is any plan to restart full catering services in trains; and
- (f)    if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 304 BY SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  17.03.2021  REGARDING  FARE  OF SPECIAL TRAINS.

(a) to  (d)  To  prevent  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian Railways  discontinued  all  regular  passenger  carrying  trains  w.e.f. 23 rd   March, 2020 and presently only special trains keeping in view the suggestions and concerns of the State Governments are being operated.   The number of services are being increased in a phased manner  and  as  on  12 th   March,  2021,  Indian  Railways  has  started operation  of  a  total  of  8474  train  services  which  includes  2328 Mail/Express Trains and 784 Passenger Trains. During Pre-COVID time, for long distance passengers, two types of train  services  were  running  over  Indian  Railways  (i)  Regular  time tabled trains and (ii) Special trains during festivals / peak demand period/rush period etc.  Further, Special trains were of three types (1)  Second  class  unreserved  specials  on  normal  fare  (2)  Special trains on special charges on normal fare plus special charges (10% in  second  class  reserved  and  30%  in  other  classes  subject  to prescribed maximum and minimum limit), and (3) Suvidha Specials on  minimum  tatkal  fare  and  maximum  three  times  of  tatkal  fare. For both special trains on special charges and Suvidha trains, fare for  second  class  unreserved  was  normal  second  class  Mail  / Express superfast fare. In  view  of  health  advisory  due  to  COVID-19,  regular  train services are running as COVID specials on the fare as applicable for regular time Tabled trains.  During COVID pandemic as passenger demands are not uniform over different sectors, some special trains on  special  charges  have  been  introduced  to  meet  the  additional demands  over  different  sectors  as  per  already  published  fare  for special trains on special charges vide (2) above. Further, unreserved  second  class  has  been  declared  as  reserved  second class in view of pandemic situation, in long distance Mail/Express trains. (e) and (f): In order to ensure safe and hygienic catering services to passengers during the pandemic situation, provision of only Ready to Eat Meals (RTE), Proprietary Article Depot (PAD) items, Packaged Drinking Water and Tea/ Coffee/ Beverages in the special trains has been made on payment basis. Catering services in trains are provided through Pantry Cars and Train Side Vending. In addition, passengers travelling in the trains have  the  facility  to  order  food  of  their  choice  through  e-Catering services and also purchase food items from the Static Units which are available at en-route stations.

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