India

Railway Pass Holders Can Upgrade to Higher Class on Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi by Paying Fare Difference

By PTI

Railway staff, retirees and other pass holders can travel in a class above their entitlement on Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains by paying the applicable fare difference, the Railway Board announced. The Board clarified that holders of Privilege Passes (PP), Post Retirement Complimentary Passes (PRCP) and Widow Passes (WP) may use a higher class on these premium trains if they pay the fare difference. The decision follows a review of the Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986, which govern free and concessional travel for railway employees, their families and dependents. The Board consulted the Commercial Directorate and stated that the new rule supersedes all previous instructions regarding travel entitlement on Passes and Paid Time Off (PTOs). It has instructed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) to update the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and the e-Pass Module of the Human Resource Management System immediately. Officials noted that earlier there was uncertainty about whether a railway employee or pensioner could pay the difference and travel in a higher class using a complimentary pass. The Board has now explicitly confirmed that this is permissible under Rule 3(x) of Schedule-II of the RSPR-1986.