Flight tickets are often cheaper than train fares on these services thanks to the flexi fare system
Railway
Minister Piyush Goyal’s announcement last week that the public
transporter was reviewing the scheme of flexi fares introduced in
September last year reflects the paradox of a surge in railway revenue
even as premium trains run with vacant seats.
While Railway
revenues have surged by Rs. 500 crore in the one year since the flexi
fare scheme was introduced on premium and express trains, the number of
passengers has dropped significantly.
The scheme has resulted in
premium trains such as the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express running with
vacant seats. While earlier, bookings had to be done months in advance
to ensure a confirmed ticket, following the introduction of the system,
up to 30% of seats remain unoccupied on any given day, according to data
from the Western Railway. Interestingly on most days, flight tickets
are cheaper than the Rajdhani fares.
The flexi fare scheme came
into effect on September 9, 2016 wherein only the first 10% of the seats
are booked at the regular fare. Thereafter, the fare increases by 10%
with every 10% of the seats booked. The flexi fare scheme is, however,
not applicable for first class AC and executive class.
The scheme
is applicable to all premium trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and
Duronto Express. As many as 42 Rajdhani, 46 Shatabdi and 54 Duronto
trains are currently in operation.
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