Review Flexi Fare Scheme – Flexi Fare System for Trains
Revaluation Ticketing System in Railways
Revamping Ticketing System in Indian Railways
During recent years the following innovative measures have been taken with a view to facilitating passengers in getting tickets and also to boost up the earnings:-
(i) Introduction of Premium Tatkal Quota
(ii) Running of Special trains including Suvidha trains on higher fares.
(iii) Introduction of Flexi fare in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.
(iv) Introduction of new trains like Gatimaan, Humsafar, Tejas, Antyodaya, Mahamana trains etc., with higher facilities and fares.
(v) Proliferation of e-ticketing system which now constitute around 65% of the total reserved tickets.
(vi) Provision of facility of booking reserved/ unreserved tickets through mobile phones.
(vii) Facility of issuing unreserved tickets through Automatic Ticket Vending Machines.
(viii) Engaging authorised agents like Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra Licensee (YTSKL), Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewaks(JTBS), Station Ticket Booking Agents(STBA) & e-ticketing agents for issuing of reserved/unreserved tickets.
(ix) Rationalisation of computerised reservation system by providing facility of automatic preparation of first reservation charts at least four hours before scheduled departure of train and thereafter facility of booking available accommodation online as well as through computerised Passenger Reservation System(PRS) till preparation of second reservation charts.
(x) Revision of Refund Rules, granting of automatic refund on e-tickets in case of cancellation of trains, cancellation of counter tickets online through Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation(IRCTC) as well as through No. 139.
(xi) Facility of booking confirmed accommodation to foreign tourists in Executive Class/1st AC/2nd AC Class in all trains including Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Duronto, Gatimaan etc. through internet upto 365 days in advance.
Further, rationalisation of fare structure as well improvement in ticketing system based on technological advancement is an ongoing and continuous process.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Committee to Review Flexi Fare Scheme
An eight member Committee comprising General Manager/West Central Railway, Principal Financial Advisor/East Central Railway, Executive Director Passenger Marketing, Railway Board, Executive Director Traffic Commercial (Rates), Railway Board, Advisor (Transport)/Niti Aayog, Executive Director/Revenue Management & Marketing Automation/Air India, Director/Revenue/Le Meridian and Professor of Transport Economics/Walchand Hirachand was constituted to review the flexi fare scheme.
The terms of reference of the committee was to examine all options and recommend best option keeping in mind interest of passengers and Railways. The committee was mandated to examine the following issues:
Impact of implementation of flexi fare in its current form with respect to:
(i) Impact on Revenue generated for Railways.
(ii) Impact on Passenger in terms of their choice of railway as means of transport (with increased fare).
(iii) Competitiveness of flexi fare viz-a-viz other means of transport.
(iv) Amendment/modification if any in
• Flexibility of rates in peak and lean season/week days and weekend/festival season.
• ‘Add on’ if any to be provided with flexi fare for better patronage of the scheme like loyalty points/deferred benefits etc.
• Any other aspects deemed fit by the committee.
(v) Fare of special trains like Humsafar etc. also to be reviewed.
(vi) Implementability of suggestions.
The Committee has submitted its report on 16.01.2018. Important recommendations are to rationalise the Flexi fare scheme based on the occupancy of the trains and also offer discounted fare in trains having low occupancy. The Report along with recommendations has been put up for consideration of the Board.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Indian Railways Reduce Flexi Fares
Indian Railway New Flexi Fare Scheme
Rationalisation of Flexi Fare Scheme
Review of Flexi Fare scheme done based on the recommendation of the Review committee, Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, and representations from passengers Flexi Fare completely removed from 15 trains Flexi Fare removed from 32 trains during lean period (February, March and August) Graded Discount upto 20% on last fare to be given (class wise) in case of class occupancy being less than 60% Highest slab reduced from 1.5 times to 1.4 times
Flexi Fare Scheme was launched with effect from 9th September, 2016. The scheme generated high revenue however initially there was a drop of passengers which picked up later on. Further, to rationalise the fares an 8 member committee was formed to review the scheme and make it more passenger friendly. The review of the scheme has been done based on the recommendation of the committee, Comptroller and Auditor General’s report, and representations from passengers. The Railways has reviewed Flexi Fare Scheme and introduced following changes:
- Discontinuation of Flexi-fare in trains with average monthly occupancy less than 50% throughout the previous year. (List of 15 Trains given in Annexure A)
- Discontinuation of Flexi-fare, in lean period of 3 months, in trains with average monthly occupancy between 50-75% throughout the previous year. (List of 32 Trains given in Annexure B)
- Maximum current cap of 1.5 times to be reduced to 1.4 times in all classes
- To increase the occupancy of less patronised classes (2A, 3A, CC etc.), Graded discount of 20% on last fare on all trains with Flexi Fare and Humsafar Trains where occupancy of a particular class is less than 60% (4 days prior to scheduled departure of the train). Further, 10% discount will be offered as per the table given below:
Upto-70% occupancy : 20% on last fare
70-80% occupancy : 10% on last fare
Above 80% occupancy : Nil
- Changes shall be implemented from Advance Reservation Period (ARP) i.e. 4 months after making necessary changes in Passenger Reservation System, on an experimental basis for six months to be further extended after assessing its outcome
Annexure A
List of trains with occupancy less than 50% (2017-18) from which Flexi Fare will be removed in 2018-19
| Sl No. | Train no. | Train type | Train Name |
| 1 | 12006 | Shatabdi | Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi |
| 2 | 12012 | Shatabdi | Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi |
| 3 | 12037 | Shatabdi | New Delhi-Ludhiana Shatabdi |
| 4 | 12038 | Shatabdi | Ludhiana-New Delhi Shatabdi |
| 5 | 12043 | Shatabdi | Moga(Ludhiana)-New Delhi Shatabdi |
| 6 | 12044 | Shatabdi | New Delhi-Moga(Ludhiana) Shatabdi |
| 7 | 12047 | Shatabdi | New Delhi-Bhatinda Shatabdi |
| 8 | 12048 | Shatabdi | Bhatinda-New Delhi Shatabdi |
| 9 | 12085 | Shatabdi | Guwahati-Dibrugarh Shatabdi |
| 10 | 12086 | Shatabdi | Dibrugarh-Guwahati Shatabdi |
| 11 | 12087 | Shatabdi | Naharlagun-Guwahati Shatabdi |
| 12 | 12088 | Shatabdi | Guwahati-Naharlagun Shatabdi |
| 13 | 12277 | Shatabdi | Howrah-Puri Shatabdi |
| 14 | 22205 | Duronto | Chennai-Madurai Duronto |
| 15 | 22206 | Duronto | Madurai-Chennai Duronto |
Annexure B
List of trains with occupancy between 50%-75% (2017-18) from which Flexi Fare will be removed in lean period of 2018-19
| S.No | Train No. | Train Name |
| 1 | 12005 | KALKA SHATABDI |
| 2 | 12014 | AMRITSAR SHATABDI |
| 3 | 12016 | AJMER SHATABDI |
| 4 | 12018 | DEHRADUN SHATABDI |
| 5 | 12020 | SHATABDI EXPRESS |
| 6 | 12025 | SHATABDI EXP |
| 7 | 12026 | PUNE SHATABDI |
| 8 | 12030 | SWARNA SHATABDI |
| 9 | 12031 | AMRITSAR SHATABDI |
| 10 | 12032 | AMRITSAR SHATABDI |
| 11 | 12039 | KGM NDLS SHT |
| 12 | 12041 | SHATABDI EXPRESS |
| 13 | 12042 | NJP HWH SHATABDI |
| 14 | 12045 | NDLS CDG SHATABDI |
| 15 | 12046 | CDG NDLS SHATABDI |
| 16 | 12213 | DURONTO EXPRESS |
| 17 | 12214 | YPR DURONTO EXP |
| 18 | 12219 | SC DURONTO EXP |
| 19 | 12223 | LTT ERS DURONTO |
| 20 | 12224 | ERS LTT DURONTO |
| 21 | 12227 | INDORE DURONTO |
| 22 | 12228 | MUMBAI DURONTO |
| 23 | 12239 | JAIPUR DURONTO |
| 24 | 12240 | JP MMCT DURONTO |
| 25 | 12243 | SHATABDI EXP |
| 26 | 12244 | SHATABDI EXP |
| 27 | 12278 | SHATABDI EXPRESS |
| 28 | 12437 | RAJDHANI EXP |
| 29 | 12441 | BSP NDLS RAJ EX |
| 30 | 12442 | BILASPUR RJDHNI |
| 31 | 12453 | RNC NDLS RAJ EXP |
| 32 | 22414 | NZM MAO RAJ |
Source: PIB
Contents
Flexi Fare Scheme Indian Railways | Flexi Fare Scheme In Railway
Flexi fare scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express trains extended for one more year
Rationalisation of Flexi fare scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto Express trains extended for one more year
IRCTC Flexi Fare System | IRCTC Flexi Fare System for Trains
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
Commercial Circular No. 25 of 2020
No.TC II/2910/2020/Flexi Fare recommendation
New Delhi, dated 02.11.2020
The Principal Chief Commercial Managers,
All Zonal Railways
MD/ CRIS/ Chanakyapuri/ New Delhi
Sub: Rationalisation of Flexi fare scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains.
Ref: 1. Commercial Circular no.65 of 2018 dated 06.11.2018
2. Commercial Circular no.22 of 2019 dated 24.04.2019
3. Commercial Circular no. 56 of 2019 dated 11.11.2019.
In continuation of above instructions, Ministry of Railways have decided that the currency of above instructions regarding rationlisation of flexi fare scheme shall be extended further for another period of one year i.e. from 15.03.2021 to 14.03.2022.
The interim changes made in the CC no. 65 of 2018 on rationalization of flexi fare in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains vide CC no. 44 of 2019 for withdrawal of graded discount from Humsafar train and vide CC no. 09 of 2020 for delegation of power to PCCMs of Zonal Railways to implement graded discount scheme in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains from 01 to 04 days prior to scheduled departure of the train instead of D-4 of the scheduled departure of the trains shall also be followed.
2. CRIS shall ensure necessary changes in advance so that extension shall be effective from due ARP date.
3. Zonal Railways shall ensure required changes in advance if any so that extension shall be effective from due ARP date.
4. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways
(Shelly Srivastava)
Director Passenger Marketing
Railway Board