: Dynamic fare pricing introduced for premium trains is getting popular as the Railway have been able to assure a confirmed seat to last-minute travellers as well check touts.
The Railway are slowly extending the dynamic fare pricing strategy to more special trains operated during festive and peak seasons. This will be reflected in the special trains to be operated from various places for the forthcoming Sabarimala season commencing November.
The Railways operated around 400 special trains to clear the rush of Ayyappa devotees last year and the dynamic fare pricing was adopted.
The findings of a recent survey that 97 per cent of the commuters in key cities did not feel the pinch of the dynamic pricing show that it has been well received by commuters, Divisional Railway Manager Sunil Bajpai told The Hindu .
The super-fast and Suvidha trains displace valuable path to ensure that it travels faster and reaches on time, Mr. Bajpai said. In the process, the other regular trains running on the same path as per the timetable will have to trail these special trains. Ultimately, it creates loss of path for the freight trains moving in the corridor.
Pointing out the hefty $100 one has to pay in a country like Switzerland for travelling 100 km, he said the citizens should not forget that all the services of the Railways continue to be subsidised. The people are ready to pay more and travel on the premium trains if they get reliable service, he said pointing out the good patronage to the Suvidha train to Chennai and the special train to Mangalaru.
“The dynamic fare pricing makes the seats accessible to all class of commuters and it is fair outcome for all stake-holders,” he added.
The dynamic fare pricing allows passengers to travel as there is some assurance to last-minute travellers that they would get a confirmed seat. For the Railways, Mr. Bajpai said the dynamic fare pricing has been an effective anti-tout mechanism. Safeguards have been taken to ensure that the genuine traveller is benefitted.
System helpful for last-minute travellers.
