Costlier, comfortable rides ahead as Railways set to launch new services

New Delhi: Though there was no fare hike proposal in the Rail Budget this time, passengers will have to cough up more for travelling on new trains with added facilities in the coming days.[caption id=“attachment_2431148” align=“alignleft” width=“300”]  New trains in the offing. AFP [/caption] Railways is gearing up to introduce a few special services with improved passenger amenities for which the regular fares will not be applicable, according to a senior railway ministry official. As per the plan, new trains with brand names like Humsafar, Tejas and Utkrisht Double-decker Air-conditioned Yatri (UDAY), are likely to be pressed into service this year with the hike in fare ranging between 15 and 30 percent over the regular tariff. All these trains were announced in the Rail Budget 2016-17 and the routes and destinations of these services are being worked out. Railways have already launched Suvidha trains on dynamic fare system. “Suvidha trains are run periodically to cater to the growing demand on certain routes,” the official said adding “these trains are demand-driven so the fare goes up with increased demand.” While all coaches in Humsafar will have AC three-tier coaches, the Tejas trains will have a 130 km/hour speed. UDAY are newly designed Double-decker trains with 40 percent higher carrying capacity. All these new trains will have improved passenger amenities in the specially designed coaches so the fares will also be on the higher side, the official said. Railways have recently introduced Mahamana Express and Gatimaan Express. Since both trains have improved amenities, fares are also higher than the regular service. Passengers do not mind paying more if the service is also better, he said. Besides, the special trains to deal with the festive rush during Christmas season, Chhath, Holi, Durga Puja and during Kumbh Mela will also have special fares, higher than the regular trains. PTI