Tag Archives: Shatabdi

To improve passenger experience, Ministry of Railways has decided to upgrade Premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains under Project ‘Swarna’. 14 Rajdhani trains and 15 Shatabdi trains will be upgraded under the project. With improved passenger amenities, aesthetics and hygiene standards, the nation’s first Swarn Rajdhani (New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani Express) was launched in New Delhi on November 29, 2017, at New Delhi Station. Some of the features introduced on Sealdah Rajdhani include complete interior painting to an aesthetic international colour scheme and LED lighting to improve illumination, auto janitor systems in toilets, night signage for easy identifications of berth numbers, CCTV cameras in doorway area and aisles, LED lighting over mirrors. An expenditure about Rs.35 lakhs has gone into this rake which translates into less than Rs.2 lakh per coach. A target budget of Rs. 50 lakh per rake was allowed for this purpose.

Foreign tourists will reportedly be able to book train tickets 360 days in advance from abroad instead of the present 120 days. The booking service will be available for first AC, second AC and executive class of mail express trains and in Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Gatimaan and Tejas trains (it is not applicable for sleeper and third AC). Foreigners are also not allowed to book tickets in Suvidha trains that cater to last minute travel planners. This move would allow foreigners to book tickets online using credit or debit cards. They would be required to give visa details, passport and international mobile numbers while booking through the IRCTC ticketing site. A service charge of INR200 will be levied by IRCTC. Besides announcing this facility for foreigners, railways will also launch an integrated mobile application for passengers shortly. The app will offer facilities of booking tickets, retiring rooms, taxis, porters, ordering food and inquiry service among others.

Ministry of Railways have decided to introduce the flexi fare system for Rajdhani/Duronto and Shatabdi trains. The base fares will increase by 10% with every 10% of berths sold subject to a prescribed ceiling limit. There will be no change in the existing fare for 1AC and EC class of travel. Other supplementary charges like reservation charges, Superfast charge, Catering charges, Service tax etc., as applicable shall be levied separately. Vacant berths left at the time of charting would be offered for current booking. Tickets under current booking shall be sold at the last price sold for that class and other supplementary charges like reservation fee, superfast charges, catering charges, service tax etc., as applicable shall be levied in full. The information should also be displayed to the passenger during the booking in case the fare of lower class becomes higher than the higher class to exercise option to travel by the higher class. The last price for every class of tickets for the particular train should be printed in the reservation chart for the purpose of charging of difference of fare in the train or charging the passengers of the train without ticket etc. The present limit of berths set aside for Tatkal quota in these trains shall be operated as per the existing guidelines. However, no additional charges as “Tatkal charges” will be levied.  The berths assigned under the Tatkal quota shall be booked at the rate of 1.5 times of the base fare for all classes (2S, SL, 2A, 3A and CC) except 1AC and EC. Other supplementary charges like reservation fee, superfast charges, catering charges, service tax etc., as applicable shall be levied in full.There shall …

Starting July 1, Indian Railways will implement new passenger-friendly rules. One of the rules is that passengers will get a 50 per cent refund of the amount paid for a tatkal ticket. The tatkal window for AC coach will be open between 10-11 AM and fir sleeper coach, the timing would be 11-12 PM. In case of Suvidha trains, tickets will only be issued for confirmed and RAC passengers. Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains will have more coaches. In fact, Rajdhani and Shatabdi will go paperless and only mobile tickets will be valid on these trains. IRCTC will start ticket bookings in various languages. Passengers will get a wake up call in the trains. The waiting list system on trains will now come to an end and tickets will be issued only for confirmed and RAC bookings.