First class fare in sub urban trains
A second class ticket in the sub urban train from Guindy to Tambaram costs about Rs. 6.
The first class ticket for the same distance will be about a prohibitive 50 bucks per trip!!
Except during peak hours, the first class coaches are running practically empty.
Why can’t the government reduce the fare of first class tickets to some reasonable levels so that many people who can afford can travel in first class often? It’s a simple case of capacity utilisation.
If the tickets are priced at a reasonable Rs. 15 bucks, i’m sure a lot of people would not mind paying Rs. 10 extra for added convenience. Now these are simply revenues for the railways at no extra cost!
Will the railway authorities look into this? God alone knows!!
June 16th, 2007 at 3:08 am
PK… AFAIK, the Chennai Beach - Tambaram section is somewhat better when it comes to First Class travel.. in Chennai Central - Arakonam section or Gummidipoondi section, all railway staff (irrespective of their grades/positions) travel in First Class making the pass holders life miserable.. Many of them cannot travel in I Class.. but they just travel.. but in the Beach - Tambaram section, they dont travel as ticket checking/frisking happen regularly.. hence they dont attempt there…
Coming to the fare cost… these are standard fare list as published by Ministry of Railways.. they wont reduce the fare’s for first class travel… if you want first class travel, pay for it… simple…
June 16th, 2007 at 4:30 am
I too had the same point and I heard the below reasoning from one Sr. Railway official ages ago…
If the first class fares are low, more ppl wd get in there and those compartments would also be crowded.
June 16th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Gowri
>>these are standard fare list as published by Ministry of Railways.. they wont reduce the fare’s for first class travel… if you want first class travel, pay for it… simple…
thats bloody arrogance dude!
if the MoR does not permit first class be made cheap, then lets have a ‘luxury’ or deluxe coach and attain the goal! certain things should never be etched in stone. the basic idea for any organization should be to make revenues and increase customer satisfaction.
FYI, the first class fare is damn cheap if one buys a season ticket. For a fare of 320, you can trval to and fro between Guindy and Tambaram for an entire month N number of times! I’m saying why don’t think rationalize the fare structure and increase revenues too.
June 16th, 2007 at 10:55 am
chakra,
The 1st class is crowded in mumbai anyway!
Going by his logic, the railways should not have first class in mumbai.
December 26th, 2007 at 1:24 am
i am looking to travel cheap in asia and was advised against tour packages but your post has given a different perspective, thanks .
August 2nd, 2010 at 1:40 am
What a pity?
In Malaysia, we travel by aircon coaches for just one ringgit,(equal to 13 Rupees) (minimum charge) 2 Ringgit (=26 Rupees) unlimited bus ride, full a/c…..
Here we pay 300% extra, no aircon, DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN FOR SUICIDE or accidents??? funny Indians.
that’s truly India. Pay more, and get nothing. that’s truly India.
Why on earth, railway staff using first class.
what a shame? one compartment divided in to two, half first class and half for ladies. what a pity? for this much population there should be atleast two compartments for first class during peak hours, and one compartment first class during off-peak hours.
Railway Officials are sleeping or might have bribed the higher officials to get a job, this will end up this way only.
BE INDIAN, CHEAT INDIAN.