Mail, express trains to remove ‘special’ tag, return on pre-Covid fares: Railways
The Indian Railways on Friday issued an order to discontinue the ‘special’ tag for mail and express trains and revert to pre-pandemic ticket prices with immediate effect. Ticket prices for special trains and holiday special trains are marginally higher.
According to the Ministry of Railways, all regular timetabled trains which are currently operating as MSPC (Mail/Express Special) and HSP (Holiday Special) train services including working time table 2021, regular numbers and fares be operated with. and classification as applicable.
“In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, all regular Mail/Express trains were being operated as MSPC (Mail/Express Special) and HSP (Holiday Special). It has now been decided to merge MSPC and HSP train services. to be included in the Working Time Table, 2021, as per the extant guidelines, with the regular number and fares applicable for the respective classes of travel and type of train,” the Railway Board said in a letter to the zonal railways.
“This issues with the concurrence of the Directorate of Passenger Marketing, Railway Board,” the order dated November 12 further said. However, the order did not specify that zonal railways need to go back to their pre-Covid regular services.
Ever since the coronavirus-triggered lockdown was relaxed, the Railways has been running only special trains. It started with long distance trains and now, even short distance passenger services are being run as special trains with “slightly higher fares” to “discourage people from avoidable travel”. Can go
A senior official said, “The zonal railways have been instructed. Though the order is in force with immediate effect, the process will take a day or two.”
Another official said, “With this, over 1,700 trains will be restored in the next few days. The first digit will no longer be zero as was the case with special trains.”
However, officials said that the restrictions introduced in the wake of Kovid such as temporary restrictions on concessions, bedrolls and food services will remain in effect.
With the operation of special trains and without any concession, the revenue of the Railways has also seen a considerable increase. The transporter registered a growth of 113 per cent in revenue from the passenger segment during Q2 of 2021-2022 as compared to the first.
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