India
Special Trains Draw Fewer Passengers Due to Higher Fares and Delays
By PTI
Despite the Railway Ministry’s claim that 18,000 special train trips were run across the country to ease the festive rush, regular trains remain in higher demand, with waiting lists often exceeding the permissible limit and ticket‑booking sites showing a ‘Regret’ status. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that all trains are monitored closely through a special War Room at Rail Bhawan to ensure safe and timely arrivals. However, officials admit that passengers prefer regular trains because special trains have higher fares, longer journey times and poorer punctuality.
The IRCTC website shows that regular trains on almost all routes have either long waiting lists or a ‘Regret’ status, indicating that the number of passengers on the waiting list has exceeded the permissible limit. For example, on the New Delhi‑Patna route, Train No. 04096, a festival special, charges ₹1,745 for an AC 3‑tier ticket, while the regular Sampoorna Kranti Express charges ₹1,390. The special train also takes considerably longer to cover the same distance: 22 hours 55 minutes versus 13 hours 8 minutes for the Sampoorna Kranti Express. Even with the longer scheduled journey time, special trains rarely reach their destinations on time, often resulting in a tiring journey of 25 to 30 hours. This is one reason why the Sampoorna Kranti Express has a much higher waiting list than the special train.
Similarly, special train No. 01143 from Mumbai to Danapur charges ₹2,235 for an AC 3‑tier ticket and takes 35 hours 20 minutes to complete the journey. In comparison, the regular LTT‑Rajgir Express covers almost the same distance in 32 hours 35 minutes, with an AC 3‑tier fare of ₹1,865.
An official said that while regular trains generally run on schedule, special trains are often delayed by several hours, causing uncertainty and inconvenience to passengers. Regular trains become overcrowded during the festive season because passengers are willing to travel even with waiting‑list tickets, as these trains generally operate according to their scheduled timings.
A senior railway official noted that fares on special trains are up to 30 percent higher than those on regular trains and that separate paths must be created for these trains, given capacity constraints on particular routes. "That is why, despite our best efforts, we cannot assure the timely arrival and departure of special trains on high‑density routes," he added.
Senior officials have suggested that the Railway Ministry consider keeping fares on special trains lower than those on regular trains, given their longer journey times and uncertain arrival schedules. "Why would I pay more for a longer and uncertain journey when I can travel on a shorter, more reliable and cheaper train?" an official asked.