Failure of dynamic or flexi-fares in Rajdhani Type trains
While the Railways may not like to admit the failure of dynamic or flexi-fares concept since firstly it has distanced the 2AC travellers who now prefer to fly at a much lower fares reaching the destination in couple of hours in the luxury of an elite mode of transportation inclusive of on aircraft catering, it has also resulted in gross under-utilization of the the berths in such trains.Not so long ago these trains were running at full capacity that even the RAC berths did not get confirmed on most occasions while now you can witness only half full compartments even though the Railways may not be experiencing any great dent on finances since those travelling by such trains now under various compulsions are made to pay exorbitant flexi-fares while similar revenue could have been generated by fully utilized trains with much lower fare structure like in the past. It may be recalled that the Railways has had made profits in not so distant past without even hiking the fares which has somehow become the latest and easiest trend.
Instead of taxing only the upper class travellers who are significantly much lower in numbers on one pretext or the other as compared to sleeper classes, the railways will generate much more revenue by introducing fare hikes for all classes on a fixed percentage basis for all trains and review the introduction of flexi-fares for the overall financial health of the Indian Railways. more
Instead of taxing only the upper class travellers who are significantly much lower in numbers on one pretext or the other as compared to sleeper classes, the railways will generate much more revenue by introducing fare hikes for all classes on a fixed percentage basis for all trains and review the introduction of flexi-fares for the overall financial health of the Indian Railways. more
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No one likes flexi fares. Railways should revert back to fixed fares with tatkal facility. make a proper analysis of costs and rationalize the fares so that people travelling in any class pay for the facilities provided for that class. Populism is not right in fixing fares. more
Nov 18
I do agree it strongly. Let Railways be a service center & not the profit center more
Nov 18
It is true. I have seen most of the AC berth occupied by upgraded passengers or remain vacant. more
Nov 07
There is no doubt the flexi-fare system introduced by the erstwhile rail minister in a hurry was not a well thought of decision. Simply copying the airlines without ensuring minimum required facilities and convenience is nothing but foolishness. While the railways utterly failed to reduce the travelling time by speeding up the trains, particularly, the so called premium ones, maintaining the timeliness, upgrading the on board facilities & cleanliness, improving the foods quality, minimising the instances of accidents, offering maximum security to the passengers' belongings and keeping an appreciable margin between the train fare & air fare, taking the passengers as granted to gulp the bait was an over estimation and unwise vision. The result is already clarified in the post. It is time now for the new minister to review the situation, compare the earnings of these train before and after introduction of the flexi-fare system and revert back to the earlier system to avoid any revenue loss further. Hopefully, good sense will prevail in the ministry and pro-active decisions will be taken at erliest possible. more
Nov 07
Full agreement with the view expressed by Mr. Anil Sharma. Dynamic fares are state loot . Railways had resorted multiple techniques silently ,to charge passenger on one or another pretext. more
Nov 07
Fully Agreed with views expressed. Flexi fare though may not loosing finances by railways affects passengers adversely both travelling and deprived of travelling by high fares. more
Nov 09
Mr Prabhu is one of the rare railway minister who has during his tenure just increased the fares substantially and reduced all privileges to children and senior citizens. Except for regularly coming in twitter and promoting himself nothing much has been done in the railways except for flexing the customers in one form or the other. more
Nov 06
