The Hindu Business Line : Rlys to launch passenger upgradation scheme

PASSENGERS booked for train travel on the Rajdhani Express and August Kranti Express between Mumbai and New Delhi with waitlisted tickets on or after January 26 this year could end up getting an upgraded ticket - without having to pay any extra charges. The Railways has said that it would launch its scheme to upgrade full fare paying waiting list passengers to the next upper classes against the available vacant accommodation and it would introduce the scheme from January 26.

Being run on an experimental basis, the scheme would be implemented on two pairs of trains between Mumbai Central and New Delhi Rajdhani Express and Mumbai Central and Hazarat Nizamuddin August Kranti Express, an official release said here today. The scheme would initially be applicable on a few select trains with reserved sleeping accommodation as a pilot project and would not be offered in trains with only sitting accommodation. The present system of upgradation on collection of full fare difference by booking, reservation or checking staff would continue for those passengers who want to voluntarily upgrade their tickets, the release said. It would be applicable to those passengers who have booked tickets on full fare, it said, adding that it would not be applicable for block booking transactions. Upgradation of passengers would be done to one class above only, for example from sleeper to AC II tier or first class, from AC III tier to AC II tier and AC II tier to AC I class. Thus, if there is no waiting list on a train, there would be no upgradation, it said.