The flexi-fare scheme was launched with effect from September 9, 2016.

The Indian Railways have reduced the flexi-fare rate in as many as 101 trains, while fully scrapping the scheme for 15 premium trains, providing a big relief to the railway passengers.

The review of the flexi-fare scheme was done based on the recommendation of the review committee, comptroller and the auditor general's report, and representations from passengers.

The system has been completely scrapped in trains with less than 50 per cent occupancy, while 20 per cent discount will be offered in trains with less than 60 per cent occupancy.

The scheme will also be removed from a total of 32 trains during lean periods [February, March and August].

The Railways have also reduced the highest slab of flexi-fares from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base ticket fare in 101 trains.

The flexi-fare scheme was launched with effect from September 9, 2016. The scheme generated high revenue.

There was a drop of passengers initially, which picked up later on. Later, to rationalise the fares an eight-member committee was formed to review the scheme and make it more passenger-friendly.

The Railways have introduced the following changes:

- Discontinuation of flexi-fare in trains with average monthly occupancy less than 50 per cent throughout the previous year (List of 15 Trains given in Annexure A)

- Discontinuation of flexi-fare, in lean period of three months, in trains with average monthly occupancy between 50-75 per cent 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 per cent on last fare on all trains with flexi-fare and Humsafar trains where occupancy of a particular class is less than 60 per cent. Further, 10 per cent 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) on an experimental basis for six months to be further extended after accessing its outcome

Annexure A

List of trains with occupancy less than 50 per cent (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 per cent (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

WHAT IS FLEXI-FARE?

The fare of the passengers is increased by 10 per cent for every 10 per cent of seats allocated under the flexi-fare.

A maximum fare limit of 140 per cent and 150 per cent, respectively for AC-III tier and all above classes except for First AC and Executive Chair car, is levied.