According to Jamshed, almost 30 percent of the tickets booked on the train were under the flexi-fare category.
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Briefing media in New Delhi, Member, Traffic, in Railway Board Mohd Jamshed said Railways have earned over Rs. 80 lakh per day additionally in the last two days following implementation of the scheme.
Responding to the charge that train fare has now become costlier than airfare, Jamshed told reporters despite flexi-fare system, train travel cost is still lower than airfare.
With the Talgo high speed train completing its Delhi-Mumbai trial run on Sunday, a railway ministry official said Humsafar trains are set for launch next month with fares that would be about 20% higher than normal mail and express trains.
Modelled on the dynamic fare system in vogue in the aviation sector, the flexi-fare system has been introduced on an experimental basis for II AC, III AC and Chair Car in the three types of premier trains, besides Sleeper class in Duronto trains. Also, no separate Tatkal surcharge will be applicable for these classes of coaches. But what sent the Indian Railways into a tizzy were the national carrier’s latest advertisements in national dailies, titled “India udo dil khol ke”, claiming that “Now Air India spot fares cheaper than Rajdhani flexi fares”.
The flexi fares on the Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duranto Express trains, effective from September 9, was announced on Wednesday.
According to the new system, the base fares of these trains will increase by 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of berths sold, subject to a ceiling limit.
Jamshed said the flexi-fare system has been introduced in only 142 trains out of total 12,000 trains which is just 0.65 per cent of total passenger trains.
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On a question as what facility would be provided to passengers purchasing tickets at a maximum surged price, Jamshed said the Railways would introduce loyalty points for frequent passengers through which they may be given Executive Lounge facility, concierge services, etc at free of cost.
