IRCTC must do better
Takes ₹20/30 Convenience Fee for Booking
Cancellation Charges (₹60/Upto 50% of Ticket)
Still App Crashes Often, Fails During Tatkaal
Their Website Has Irritating Ads All Around
Classic Example of Shamelessness, Do Better more
Hello Padmanabhan G - While it's true that Indian Railways is facing financial losses, it's crucial to assess the root causes of these losses. These could include factors like underinvestment in infrastructure, subsidies on passenger fares, inefficient management, and outdated technology. A balanced approach would be to explore more sustainable options like improving operational efficiencies, reducing wastage, and leveraging digital platforms for improved customer service and cost savings. Indian Railways offers some of the lowest train fares in the world, particularly for lower classes (e.g., Sleeper Class), where a 500-km journey might cost less than $5 USD. However, for premium classes like AC, ticket prices can be comparable to or slightly cheaper than some developing nations (like China or Indonesia), but still much lower than what you'd find in developed countries (such as the U.S., UK, or Japan).
Developed countries like the U.S., Germany, and Japan typically have higher prices for long-distance, high-speed, or premium trains, often due to the higher operational costs and advanced technology involved in their railway systems.
Developing countries like China, Indonesia, and South Africa have railway fares that are often more expensive than India’s, but typically not as high as those in developed countries.
Hello PRADEEP GUPTA (PEDIATRICIAN ) - Any nation's success or failure is determined by the political party ruling the same. I have a good habit TO Call a spade a spade. It is not a question of decency. People who can not defend themselves with numbers, facts, data etc often resort to spreading shits and demanding others. This is the world we are living in. We have educated fools runing the world. I have seen senior people who will die in next 10-20 years but they have not lived the life, they are far from logically thinking, sense, reality and often part of some propaganda, illusions, brainwashed, morally bankrupt, dishonest, an I can go on.
On Indian Railways punctuality:
Indian Railways has made significant strides in improving punctuality, with recent performance levels reaching around 85-90%. However, compared to developed countries like Japan (99%), Germany (80-85%), and France (85-90%), India still faces challenges, primarily due to congestion, weather conditions, and aging infrastructure. Developing countries like China have made remarkable improvements, especially in high-speed trains, where punctuality is high (95%+). However, regional and slower trains in these countries tend to have lower punctuality, much like India. Modernization and investment in signaling systems, dedicated tracks, and high-speed corridors are key to improving punctuality further in India. While Indian Railways has made considerable improvements, it still faces significant challenges due to its size, diversity of services, and legacy infrastructure.
Most of the current generation will understand how sites and browsers work and it will be more difficult for a senior citizen to grasp and understand tech-related things. But A google search will clear the clouds for all including senior citizens. Feedbacks can not taken if they some constructive feedback. Simply bashing the govt does not help. I do not understand why people are after Ads. Are you guys have a ticket-booking business and are being irritated by ads? Are you guys spent time using IRCTS Site like some Facebook, Twitter, Instagram ? Ticket booking is a less then 5 minutes of tasks. I did earlier booked many tickets and did not faced any issues ? Not a single time ads disturbed me. IRCT should bring a paid plan for your guys to subscribe to which which should eliminate the ads. Are you guys going to subscribe to the paid plan? The country should not run on the basis of what we like or not but rather what is needed, logical, and sensible. Nobody likes to pay taxes, should we abolish the taxes ? It does not mean what you like or not if you are illogical and lacks any sense.
Advertisers often target audiences based on the type of content they are consuming or their demographic characteristics. On IRCTC, the ads displayed could be relevant to travelers, such as promotions for travel packages, hotel bookings, food services, or even railway-related services (like train upgrades or mobile applications). This makes the ads not just a commercial interruption but potentially useful information for the users. Advertising also facilitates partnerships with travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, and other travel-related service providers. This can offer users exclusive discounts, deals, or value-added services, improving the overall experience for them. As India moves toward a more digital-first economy, platforms like IRCTC’s website play an essential role in the online booking process for millions of people. Ads, when strategically placed, can enhance user engagement with the platform. Rather than being intrusive, ads can feature train-related services, mobile apps for convenience, or other digital tools that improve the overall user experience. The revenue generated from ads can fund digital initiatives aimed at improving the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) on the IRCTC website. It can also go toward expanding the functionality of the platform, such as adding features for easier ticket booking, faster payment options, or improved navigation, making the platform more user-friendly. Ads on the IRCTC website are justified for several key reasons, including revenue generation to support the operations of Indian Railways, improving customer experience, and ensuring that fares remain affordable for millions of passengers. These ads provide a critical source of income without significantly impacting the user experience, particularly when the ads are relevant and non-intrusive. Additionally, they help sustain the digital transformation of the railway system, fund infrastructure improvements, and promote government initiatives.
While advertisements can be an inconvenience for some users, their presence is a necessary trade-off to keep railway fares affordable and to ensure that IRCTC continues to enhance its services, especially in a country where public transportation is essential for millions of people.
On Indian Railway Fare :
To make Indian Railways profitable while maintaining its role as a public service, several strategies and reforms should be implemented. These measures would not only help increase revenue but also reduce inefficiencies, improve customer experience, and ensure long-term sustainability. Here’s a comprehensive approach to enhancing profitability:
1. Increasing Revenue from Non-Fare Sources
Commercial Utilization of Land and Stations:
Indian Railways owns vast amounts of land and numerous stations. By leasing or developing properties (e.g., hotels, malls, office spaces, parking lots, and real estate ventures), Indian Railways can generate significant non-fare revenue.
Station Redevelopment: Modernizing stations with retail spaces, commercial hubs, and hospitality services can create a new stream of revenue.
Advertising: Increasing the presence of advertising on trains, stations, and digital platforms can bring in additional funds. This has been successful in other countries, such as Japan and the UK.
Freight Business Expansion:
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) have already been implemented, but further expansion and better utilization of rail freight can significantly increase revenues. Rail is far cheaper than road transport for long distances, so expanding the market share of freight over highways could prove profitable.
Private Sector Involvement: Encouraging private companies to invest in freight operations and logistics could help optimize operations and improve efficiency. This would create a competitive environment, potentially increasing overall revenue.
2. Modernizing Infrastructure and Improving Efficiency
Upgrading Tracks & Rolling Stock:
Replacing old, inefficient tracks with modern ones can reduce maintenance costs and improve the speed and capacity of trains.
Investing in modern locomotives and high-speed trains can reduce operational costs and improve punctuality, which in turn can attract more passengers, especially for premium services.
Digitalization and Automation:
Implementing advanced train management systems, automated ticketing, real-time tracking, and AI-based predictive maintenance can improve efficiency and reduce the overall cost of operations.
Smart ticketing (mobile apps, contactless payments) can reduce administrative overheads and improve customer experience.
Track and Route Optimization:
Optimizing routes to improve train speeds, reduce congestion, and minimize delays can enhance operational efficiency. This would reduce the costs of running idle trains and improve the on-time performance, thus attracting more passengers.
Electrification of the entire network will reduce fuel costs in the long run and make operations more sustainable.
3. Improving Customer Experience
Upgrading Passenger Amenities:
Modernizing train interiors, improving cleanliness, and providing better food quality could improve the overall passenger experience, attracting more premium customers willing to pay for better service.
Offering differentiated services like luxury trains (e.g., Palace on Wheels), more efficient express services, or business-class services could help Indian Railways tap into the lucrative market of corporate travelers.
Dynamic Pricing Models:
Indian Railways could adopt a dynamic pricing system, similar to airlines or private airlines, where ticket prices vary depending on demand and the class of service. This would allow Indian Railways to extract higher revenues from peak seasons while still offering affordable tickets during off-peak times.
Customer-Centric Services:
Strengthening customer support, introducing loyalty programs, and offering personalized services would increase customer retention and enhance long-term profitability.
Partnering with other service providers, such as ride-sharing apps for last-mile connectivity, can make the entire journey more convenient and thus attract more passengers.
4. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Private Investment
Attract Private Investment:
Indian Railways can seek public-private partnerships (PPP) for building new trains, stations, and even operating services. The government could allow private players to manage certain routes or services (like express trains or suburban services) while maintaining public control over the core infrastructure.
Private Freight Operations: Allowing private companies to operate freight trains could increase efficiency in cargo handling and reduce the government’s operational burden.
Outsourcing Non-Core Functions:
Outsourcing non-core functions like train catering, cleaning, and maintenance to private companies can reduce costs, improve service quality, and focus resources on core railway operations.
5. Improved Pricing Structure and Fare Reforms
Review of Fare Structures:
The pricing structure for tickets (especially in premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat) should be reviewed to make them more competitive and market-driven.
Subsidies should be rationalized, with a focus on providing subsidies to the needy (senior citizens, students) while ensuring that frequent and premium passengers contribute adequately to the revenues.
Corporate and Bulk Ticket Sales:
Introducing discounts or subscription models for frequent travelers, businesses, or groups could lead to bulk ticket sales. Offering corporate discounts for companies that book train travel for their employees could be another way to increase revenue.
6. Sustainability and Green Initiatives
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability:
Solar energy can be harnessed for trains and stations to reduce electricity costs. India has already seen some progress with solar-powered stations and train roofs with solar panels.
Electric trains are more energy-efficient than diesel-powered ones. By focusing on electrification, Indian Railways can save on fuel costs in the long run and reduce the environmental impact.
Carbon Credits and Green Bonds:
Indian Railways could also tap into green bonds or carbon credit markets to generate funding for sustainability projects, including electrification and the introduction of low-carbon technologies.
7. Diversification of Services
Tourism and Special Trains:
Indian Railways can promote tourism through special train services like the Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels, or heritage train routes to attract high-paying international and domestic tourists.
Offering special-purpose trains (e.g., pilgrimage trains, cultural tours) would cater to niche markets, driving more revenue.
Logistics Services:
Indian Railways can expand its business model to include logistics and supply chain solutions. By positioning itself as a logistics partner for industries, Indian Railways can transport goods more efficiently and generate higher revenue from freight services.
8. Improved Governance and Accountability
De-centralized Management:
Indian Railways is a vast organization, and local-level management could help improve operational efficiencies and responsiveness. A more decentralized model would allow regional managers to address local issues faster, reducing delays and improving service quality.
Performance Monitoring:
Implementing robust performance monitoring systems to track train punctuality, revenue generation, customer satisfaction, and cost management will ensure that inefficiencies are spotted early and corrective actions are taken.
Strengthen Audit and Transparency:
Greater transparency in procurement, fund allocation, and spending will reduce corruption and mismanagement, leading to better utilization of resources and funds.
9. Strategic Partnerships with Technology Companies
Collaborating with Tech Startups:
Indian Railways can collaborate with technology companies and startups to create better services, improve ticket booking systems, and develop technologies that can reduce maintenance costs, improve predictive analytics for trains, and enhance overall operations. more
Railways need to look at why they are making losses and set their expenses right internally. Several suggestions, about how to increase their revenues and make the ticketing system user friendly, have been given in this circle, social media and to the railways. But, no one in the govt (irrespective of which party is in power) or the railways seem to care. Just introducing new and fancy trains is not improvement. more