Thanks to the new premium special AC train and its new dynamic fare structure, the 17-coach Delhi-Mumbai superfast is raking in an additional Rs 1 lakh per trip compared to the 21-coach Rajdhani Express
The Mumbai-Delhi superfast is already generating good revenue for the Western Railways (WR). The premium special AC train has earned them Rs 1 lakh more than what they normally do from their most elite train, Rajdhani Express.
According to WR officials, this 17-coach train earned them Rs 23.40 lakh on its maiden trip to Delhi on December 26 while, on the other hand, the Rajdhani Express generates Rs 22.40 lakh after all seats are sold out. The simple reason for this additional revenue is the economics of running the premium train, which is similar to that of an airline -- the fare of each seat depends on the demand.
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As bookings can be done only through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s (IRCTC) website, the railway authorities have developed a system where, for instance, if the first 10 seats are booked in span of 30 minutes, the fare will automatically get hiked. However, if those same 10 seats are booked in a span of two hours or more, the consecutive hike in tariff will be less. In addition to this, the waiting list system is being done away with for the premium train. As bookings can be done only through the railways’ official website, the menace of touts will be curbed. “As people are already paying at competitive rates, they obviously wouldn’t want to pay more to the touts,” a WR official said.
According to sources, the WR has already earned Rs 49 lakh, and that includes bookings for the next train services plying onDecember 29 and January 1. Officials claimed that as of now, the demand for train seats these past two days hasn’t been up to the mark and that they are hoping for an improvement.
The base price of a seat in the premium train and Rajdhani Express is the same. Up until Friday evening, the list of bookings for a ride in the premium train on December 29 showed nearly 100 empty seats and nearly 200 unreserved seats for January 1.
Seating arrangement
20 coaches in Rajdhani Express
1AC (1 coach): 24
2AC (5 coaches): 320
3AC (10 coaches): 720
Total : 1,064 seats
17 coaches in Premium
AC special
2AC (4 coaches): 256
3AC (10 coaches): 720
Total : 976 seats
Price variation (minus tatkal charges)
Rajdhani Express
2AC: Rs 2,495
3AC: Rs 1,818
Premium AC special
2AC: Rs 3,475
3AC: Rs 2,400
Revenue earned
Rajdhani Express: Rs 22.4 lakh
Premium AC special: Rs 23.4 lakhu00a0
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