Railways charging extra fares from passengers is misleading: NFR

Northeast Frontier Railways in a press release refuted reports of them charging extra fares from passengers. The release also added that the reports are misleading and are not based on all the facts.

“Festival / Holiday special trains were started as per the long-standing practice to clear the rush. Festivals have been continuing and even today the harvest festival is being celebrated. This year there has been pent-up demand on many sectors on which the festival trains were running. These festival trains have been continued to clear the rush,” stated the release.

Fare for such trains has been kept a little higher since 2015, which is “nothing new” and this is an established practice, the release added.

Also Read: NFR organises exhibition of safety items to encourage local entrepreneurs

Passenger operations have always been subsidised by railways, said NFR. Railways bear the loss of travel by passengers. Railways have been running trains in COVID-19 times in the most challenging circumstances. Running in low occupancy in many sections and still operating in public welfare.

The release stated, “Not only this; Railways has taken special care about the travel by those travelling by lowest fare in trains so that even in COVID-19 times they bear the least burden.”

Total 1058 Mail/Express, 4807 suburban services & 188 passenger trains are presently in operation on average daily as health situation of states, views of the State Governments, etc. also need to be taken into account before getting into normal operations added the press release.