The Railway Board said in a letter to zonal railways on Friday that trains will now be operated with their usual numbers and tariffs will return to pre-Covid levels.
The matter in-depth
The Railways issued an order on Friday to eliminate the special tag for mail and express trains and revert to pre-pandemic ticket prices with immediate effect, in response to passenger pressure over fare increases.
The Railways has been running one special train since the coronavirus-induced closure was lifted. Long-distance trains were the first, but now short-distance passenger services are being run as special trains with “slightly higher prices” to “discourage people from unnecessary travels.”
The new directives
The Railway Board said in a letter to zonal railways on Friday that trains will now be operated with their usual numbers and tariffs will return to pre-Covid levels.
“Due to the Pandemic, all ordinary mail/express trains were run as MSPC (mail/express special) and HSP (high-speed passenger) trains” (holiday special).
The MSPC and HSP train services, which are included in the Working Time Table for 2021, will now run with normal numbers and rates will be applicable for the concerned classes of travel and train type, as per the existing norms.
The order dated November 12 stated that the issue is with the concurrence of the Railway Board’s Passenger Marketing Directorate.
However, the ruling does not indicate when the zonal railways must resume their pre-Covid regular services.
Additional information on the matter
It has been informed by a senior official however that instructions have been given to the zonal railways. While the order is effective immediately, the process will take a day or two.
It was informed that Over 1,700 trains will be restored in the coming days. Another official stated that the first digit will no longer be zero, as it was in the case of special trains.
The decree also makes no indication of whether or not the concessions that were removed from the special trains will be reinstalled.
The revenue of the railways has increased significantly as a result of the running of special trains with no concessions.
During the second quarter of 2021-2022, the transporter’s earnings from the passenger segment increased by 113% when compared to the previous quarter.