Indian Railways has decided to introduce the flexi fare system for Rajdhani/Duronto and Shatabdi trains from Friday Sep 09,2016

Taking a leaf from the world of Ola and Uber, the Indian Railways is rolling out the surge-pricing model that could kick up a political storm in the coming days, starting September 09,2016


Rail fares are set to rise across the Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains where Railways is introducing this system which will increase the ticket tariffs by upto 10% on the base price with every 10% of tickets sold.

That could mean rising train fares during peak holiday and festive seasons although surge pricing will as of now be limited only to these three trains mostly preferred by middle-class passengers.

Other supplementary charges like reservation charges, Superfast charge, Catering charges, Service tax etc will be levied separately says a Railways release.

The Indian Railways has decided to introduce the flexi fare system for Rajdhani/Duronto and Shatabdi trains as per details given below:-

1.  The base fare for Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi class of trains will be on flexi fare system.
2(a) The base fares will increase by 10% with every 10% of berths sold subject to a prescribed ceiling limit as indicated in the table below. There will be no change in the existing fare for 1AC and EC class of travel. In the tables given below ‘X’ stands for the present base fares.

Other supplementary charges like reservation charges, superfast charge, catering charges, service tax etc., as applicable shall be levied separately.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.,
3 The operation of various quotas available in these category of Trains shall be as under:
(a) Tatkal Quota: 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.
(b) There shall be no Premium Tatkal Quota in these train services.
 4. Concession: Normal concession as applicable for respective concessional ticket will be admissible on the base fare of the ticket at each stage as per the table above.
5. Refund Rules:  There will be no change in the existing refund rules.
6. Other Charges: There shall be no change in charges for reservation fee, superfast surcharge etc. Such charges, wherever applicable, shall continue to be levied additionally as per existing instructions.
7. Service tax will continue to be levied as applicable as per instructions issued in this regard.
 8. All other rules and conditions pertaining to the above category of trains shall be continued without any change.
 9.  The changes in fares as above shall come into force w.e.f  09.09.2016.
10. The revised fares will not apply to tickets already issued in advance for journeys to commence on or after 09.09.2016.
11.  In the case of tickets already issued at pre-revised rates, the difference of fare shall not be collected from the passengers.
12. These changes should be carried out in manual ticketing system and in PRS, UTS  etc