Is the railways spreading its 'premium' train concept, where fares go up according to demand, too thin? Is money the only criteria while announcing such trains? The railways a couple of days ago announced two premium specials – 02065 CST-Ernakulam and 02057 CST-Tirunelveli. While the premium trains can theoretically have a ticket priced three times the fare for a normal express train on the same route, both categories of trains take the same time to cover the stretch.
Is the railways spreading its 'premium' train concept, where fares go up according to demand, too thin? Is money the only criteria while announcing such trains? The railways a couple of days ago announced two premium specials – 02065 CST-Ernakulam and 02057 CST-Tirunelveli. While the premium trains can theoretically have a ticket priced three times the fare for a normal express train on the same route, both categories of trains take the same time to cover the stretch.
Moreover, with just six stops on the CST-Tirunelveli premium and five stops enroute for the CST-Ernakulam premium, the question being raised is whether it was more logical to have made them normal superfast specials.
When will the trains run?
The CST-Tirunelveli premium will run on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6,13, 20, 27 and June 3. The CST-Ernakulam premium will run on March 29, April 5,12,19, 26, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and June 7.
Why are they really not special?
As per the schedule, the CST-Tirunelveli will take around 35 hours, same as the other trains on the route, and the CST-Ernakulam will take around 26 hours, about the same time taken by other trains on the route like Netravati. Infact the railway ministry shows more of its muddled thinking by making the return trip of both these trains as non-premium ones taking the same time and with anything between 25 to 35 halts.
Has anyone opposed the move?
Yes. Thomas Simon of the Western India Passengers Association, which has shot off a protest letter to the railway ministry, said, "What is premium about these trains? Only the prices. What about the services? We believe it is illegal and a fraud committed on passengers. What is the difference between touts and the railway ministry if it is trying to cash in on the genuine passenger demand for tickets to routes like Mumbai-Kerala?" The logical thing to do, Simon said, was to make these trains as Superfast and price the tickets accordingly.
What does railways say?
Ajay Shukla, acting member traffic of the Railway Board, could not be contacted. The premium concept, ever since being introduced on the Mumbai-Delhi route in December 2013, has become one of the railways's big-ticket plans to increase ticket revenue without raising fares across the board.
How are premium trains doing?
While the Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Varanasi and Mumbai-Gorakhpur premiums have done well with prices of some of these trains breaching the Rs6,000 barrier, the railways has also burnt its finger with Mumbai-Goa premium trains during the Ganpati season in August-September last year when occupancy of the trains was a mere 19 percent.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}