The Hindu Business Line : Apex fares offer stiff fight to Rly upper class rates

DID the existence of lower level advance purchase air fares which are comparable with the existing fares in first class air condition coaches, influence the Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, decision of not hiking the upper class rail fares?

While no clear-cut answers are readily available, a cursory glance at the existing railway and apex fares being charged by airline make an interesting reading.

A passenger flying with the private sector airline Jet Airways on the Delhi-Mumbai sector and booking their tickets at least 15 or 30 days in advance would pay Rs 4,315 or Rs 3,450 respectively while a passenger travelling by first AC would pay Rs 4,135.

However, a passenger travelling between Delhi and Mumbai by second AC would pay Rs 2,210 and a passenger travelling by third AC would pay Rs 1,485. On the State-owned Indian Airlines, a passenger booking a week or three weeks ahead for travel on the Delhi-Mumbai sector would pay Rs 5,275 and Rs 3,500 respectively.

Similarly, on the Delhi-Bangalore sector, a passenger flying with Indian Airlines and booking their tickets at least a week or three weeks before travel would pay Rs 8,380 or Rs 5,025 respectively while a passenger travelling by first AC would pay Rs 5,750 and a second AC passenger would pay Rs 3,085.

Similarly, a passenger flying with Jet on the Delhi-Bangalore sector would pay Rs 4,790 for a booking made a month in advance and Rs 5,380 for a booking made 15 days before travel.

Probably, the only hint of the thinking of the top brass of the Railways for not increasing upper class fares was given by the Chairman Railway Board, Mr R.K. Singh.

Addressing a press conference. Mr Singh, said that in earlier years, it had been noticed that when the Railways raised upper class fares, there was a loss of number of passengers travelling with them.

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