First-class ticket and monthly pass holders can now travel in the air-conditioned local trains by paying the fare difference from Monday. The Railway Board issued a circular to this effect on Friday.
Western Railways (WR) started the AC local service on December 25. Since January 1, it has been running 12 services daily between Monday and Friday. Many passengers have said they are waiting for their first-class passes to expire to get new AC local passes.
Pass holders will have to pay the entire month’s difference, regardless of the number of days left for it to expire. But the validity of the AC monthly pass will be the same as the first class monthly pass. The facility will not be extended to those with quarterly or semi-annual passes.
Commuters can pay the fare difference at the booking counters once the Centre for Railway Information Systems makes thechanges in the software. Until then, it will be done manually. Single journey ticket holders will have to pay the amount to the TTEs in the AC local.
