Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-12
Subject: Festival Special Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA, BHARAT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2018

## FESTIVAL SPECIAL TRAINS

†252. SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: SHRI BHARAT SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)    whether for the special trains on festivals and special occasions, the Railways is charging the fare equivalent to tatkal ticket, which is putting extra burden on passengers; and

- (b)  if so, the reasons therefor and the extent to which the extra burden is likely to be on the passengers because of it?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252 BY SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI AND SHRI BHARAT  SINGH  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  12.12.2018 REGARDING FESTIVAL SPECIAL TRAINS

(a)  & (b): The following types of special trains are introduced to clear extra rush during peak demand periods:-

| Type of special trains                                      | Fare                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (i). Fully unreserved (second class) train                  | (i). Normal second class Mail/Express fare for unreserved second class                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| (ii). Special trains with mixed composition/fully reserved. | (ii). (a) Second class (unreserved): Normal second class Mail/Express fare for unreserved second class. (b) Second class (reserved): 10% higher than the normal Mail/Express fare for second class. (c) Other classes: 30% higher than the normal Mail/Express fare of the                     |
| (iii). Suvidha Special                                      | (iii). (a) Unreserved second class: Normal superfast Mail/Express fares. (b) Reserved Class: Minimum fare is Tatkal fare 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. |

From above it may be seen that no increase in fare for second class (unreserved). However for other classes higher fares have been fixed in view of investments for the coaches, empty running of certain

-2- rakes/locos  from  one  location  to  another,  arrangements  of  spare Guard/loco pilots, special arrangements for stabling/maintenance of the rakes and in certain cases unidirectional demand pattern etc.

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