Flexi Fare system - Some inputs
The railways say that only 0.65 passengers will be impacted by the surge price. But the real worry is that the experiment will be extended to the other long distance trains.
A relatively poorer person who makes a late decision to travel should not be priced out by such a system by monopolistic provider that aims to provide a public service .Yes, Railways must find a way to increase revenue from passenger traffic if it is to convert itself into a healthy and self sufficient organization. The issue is what the best – or the most painless – way to do this. “The Hindu Editorial dt : Sept 10th “
# The 3 catagory of trains Shatabdis, Durantos and Rajadhanis - why all trains, except the 5 tourist ones , should provide coaches of Sleeper class [SL]and 2nd seater [2S] for the relatively poorer passengers; they may also be allowed to use the facility to reach the destination early to report for duty or attend to some social function. After all they are fellow Indians.
All trains should have mixed passenger coaches. Don’t segregate the poor, it will amount to marginalization. They are already pushed into sleeper class[SL] and 2nd seater [2S] and unreserved compartments. It is the poor who need to save time as every hour delayed may deny their earnings. Let the 5 tourist trains remain close to the heart of the railways as prestigious ones from the 160 year old Railways and India's Heritage . Rest of the the fast and super fast trains should be available for the poor also.
# Shatabdis, Durantos and Rajadhanis are hauling much less than the 20 ,22 coaches than the normal express ,mail passenger trains. Chennai –Mysore , Chennai Bangalore-Sahatabdis, Chennai Bangalore Double Decker all full A/C trains, haul just around or less than 10 coaches. An Extra 4to 6 coaches of lower classes is not going to make an impact on the haulage charges and speed . On the contrary it will help the economically weaker sections to reach the destination faster ,may it be to report for duty or attend social functions. Premium rates can be charged for the lower classes as superfast fare is charged now. There is no hassel for us to travel with a few lower class coaches in these trains.
Otherwise railways will be construed as unfriendly towards the poor and also not fulfilling the social obligation for the nation. If railways want to give an Aesthetic appearance for these prestigious trains, paint the lower class coaches also to match aesthetics ; if not possible push them to one side , front or back.
So that Indian railways is not considered to be an exclusivist Organization for the non poor alone. HIGH TIME THE RAILWAYS CHANGE THE MINDSET AND GET OUT FROM THE LEGACY OF BRITISH DAYS
# Little more than 1.334 million employees enjoy the privilege of 2 sets to 5 sets of passes in a year and the P.T.O.’s. Why not railways try to reduce these privileges ? Try to stop these privileges for the employees at least in the premium trains so that the railways doesn’t go in red. Imagine 13,34,000 and their families and dependants [X 4 or 5 = 65,00,000] travelling free without participating in the financial burden of the Railways . It is not fair to pass on this burden as well as that of the huge pay hike onto the travelling public.
IT IS OUR WISH THAT RAILWAYS BECOMES A SELFSUFFICIENT ORGANIZATION ; DO IT THE MOST PAINLESS WAY . JAI HIND. more
A relatively poorer person who makes a late decision to travel should not be priced out by such a system by monopolistic provider that aims to provide a public service .Yes, Railways must find a way to increase revenue from passenger traffic if it is to convert itself into a healthy and self sufficient organization. The issue is what the best – or the most painless – way to do this. “The Hindu Editorial dt : Sept 10th “
# The 3 catagory of trains Shatabdis, Durantos and Rajadhanis - why all trains, except the 5 tourist ones , should provide coaches of Sleeper class [SL]and 2nd seater [2S] for the relatively poorer passengers; they may also be allowed to use the facility to reach the destination early to report for duty or attend to some social function. After all they are fellow Indians.
All trains should have mixed passenger coaches. Don’t segregate the poor, it will amount to marginalization. They are already pushed into sleeper class[SL] and 2nd seater [2S] and unreserved compartments. It is the poor who need to save time as every hour delayed may deny their earnings. Let the 5 tourist trains remain close to the heart of the railways as prestigious ones from the 160 year old Railways and India's Heritage . Rest of the the fast and super fast trains should be available for the poor also.
# Shatabdis, Durantos and Rajadhanis are hauling much less than the 20 ,22 coaches than the normal express ,mail passenger trains. Chennai –Mysore , Chennai Bangalore-Sahatabdis, Chennai Bangalore Double Decker all full A/C trains, haul just around or less than 10 coaches. An Extra 4to 6 coaches of lower classes is not going to make an impact on the haulage charges and speed . On the contrary it will help the economically weaker sections to reach the destination faster ,may it be to report for duty or attend social functions. Premium rates can be charged for the lower classes as superfast fare is charged now. There is no hassel for us to travel with a few lower class coaches in these trains.
Otherwise railways will be construed as unfriendly towards the poor and also not fulfilling the social obligation for the nation. If railways want to give an Aesthetic appearance for these prestigious trains, paint the lower class coaches also to match aesthetics ; if not possible push them to one side , front or back.
So that Indian railways is not considered to be an exclusivist Organization for the non poor alone. HIGH TIME THE RAILWAYS CHANGE THE MINDSET AND GET OUT FROM THE LEGACY OF BRITISH DAYS
# Little more than 1.334 million employees enjoy the privilege of 2 sets to 5 sets of passes in a year and the P.T.O.’s. Why not railways try to reduce these privileges ? Try to stop these privileges for the employees at least in the premium trains so that the railways doesn’t go in red. Imagine 13,34,000 and their families and dependants [X 4 or 5 = 65,00,000] travelling free without participating in the financial burden of the Railways . It is not fair to pass on this burden as well as that of the huge pay hike onto the travelling public.
IT IS OUR WISH THAT RAILWAYS BECOMES A SELFSUFFICIENT ORGANIZATION ; DO IT THE MOST PAINLESS WAY . JAI HIND. more
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Don't use illogical n illegal n arbitrary method of increasing fares n forcing public to pay just because they don't book early. Reduce all other concessional travel by railway employees, VIPs n Govt. Or defence personnel. Don't be unfair to common people. Charge the same rate for all. Except fot tatkal booking just a day before. Why should I pay more for same berth just because I book late. This is highly arbitrary n may not even stand if someone goes to court seeking legal remedy. Flexi- fare is not justified n please drop it. If you are bent upon charging more, introduce another special tatkal 3 days before travel. But when nothing is extra between me who books 2 days later than a person who books on first day of opening, why should I pay 10% or 20% more? Otherwise privatise railways n compete with them. more
Sep 13
Absolutely Railways must look at its cost management before burdening the passengers.I am also not sure how this flexi pricing system works. Assuming at the end of the day the 10% of the normal fare seats are booked,then the higher fare starts the next day.However what happens to the cancellations on the next day which may bring up more seats available within the 10% more
Sep 13
