GUNTUR: Railway Ministry has found a new way of enhancing the passenger fares though it had been claiming that there is no upward revision of fares for the last few years. The decision to convert 20 express trains originating on the South Central Railway (SCR) to `super fast' would result in passengers shelling out additional amount as surcharges, though there would be no realistic change in the services.

Another 24 trains passing through SCR have also been upgraded to super fast trains out of the 200 done all over the country. This upgradation, which comes into effect from July 1, would give these super fast trains priority of passage over other express and passenger trains.

Surcharge break-up

For second-class ticket holders, the surcharge is Rs.10, while it is Rs.20 for sleeper class, Rs. 30 for AC 2 tier and AC 3 tier classes and Rs.50 for AC First class. These newly upgraded super fast trains have been speeded up in the new timetable effective from July 1, but even 18 `express' trains on the SCR have been speeded up by 15 to 55 minutes.

Upgraded trains

Passengers from Guntur have to shell out extra fares for travelling by Nagarjuna, Narayanadri and Hyderabad-Chennai-Hyderabad express trains in Guntur division, while Palnadu and Falaknuma express trains continue to be super fast trains.

Other upgraded trains include Godavari, Gautami, Dakshin, and Secunderabad-Guwahati Express trains among others. There is a widespread criticism that the Railways has resorted to upgrading of trains that have a good patronage.

New timetable

Among the other changes in the new timetable include the extension of the weekly Vijayawada-Lokamanya Tilak Terminus Express. It would run between Kakinada and Bhavnagar (Gujarat).

It will leave Kakinada at 4 a.m. on Thursday instead of Sunday and reach Bhavnagar at 9.20 p.m. on Friday. In the return direction, it would leave Bhavnagar every Saturday at 4.05 a.m. and reach Kakinada at 9.10 p.m. on Sunday.

Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express would leave Secunderabad at 4 p.m. instead of 5.40 p.m. and arrive at Howrah at 6.35 p.m. the next day.

Secunderabad-Guntur Palnadu express would start at 3.15 p.m from Secunderabad instead of 2 p.m and reach Guntur at 8 p.m.

The revised timing for Secunderabad-Vijayawada inter-city express is departure from Secunderabad at 7.40 a.m. arriving at Vijayawada at 1.30 p.m. The Hyderabad-Howrah East Coast Express will depart Hyderabad at 10 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. Tirupati-Ongole passenger is extended up to Chirala. Hyderabad- Chennai Charminar Express will depart Hyderabad at 6 p.m. instead of 8.30 p.m. Gautami Express will terminate at Kakinada town instead of Kakinada port station.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail