There are many online gripes about the inconveniences of rail travel, which may explain the recent increases in train fares. Users are astonished by the steep increases in rail rates.
Indian Railways carries millions of passengers to their destinations every day across the country. Many trains are run every day to facilitate this. Many train passengers are regular commuters who use the service to go to and from work every day. Many people are also on the move from one city to another, or from the bustling metropolis to their rural homes.
Festivals saw a rise in foot traffic.
Although a large number of people travel by train every day, on certain important occasions, the number of people traveling by rail grows dramatically. Those who have moved away to find a job or attend school begin making the long journey back to their original lands during celebrations. Something quite similar is happening now. Dussehra and Diwali are over, but Chhath officially begins today. Large numbers of people in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh observe Chhath. As a result, commuters on trains are more likely to experience delays when residents of major metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai go home.
The rent remains high long after the celebrations have ended.
This is not a modern tale. As a general rule, this narrative keeps being told over and over again. Train tickets sell out early in the run-up to the event. Every year during the holiday season, we are reminded again of the images of people being crammed into rail carriages and treated inhumanely. Along with this, there is always a narrative about how much more expensive train travel has become. It seems like things are considerably worse this time. Train rates are beating aircraft fares. Prices remain very high even after events have ended.
Take a look at where we are now.
This illustration will help you grasp the concept. We looked for information on the November 21st train from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal to Patna Junction on the IRCTC website. Chhath ends on the 21st of November. If you have to travel from Mumbai to celebrate Chhath, chances are you’ll get there before the 21st of November, so you won’t have to deal with the crowds on that day. Even still, the rates listed on November 21st could come as a shock.
The price of a sleeper cabin increases by 100%.
When you search for “Mumbai-Patna Suvidha Express,” it’s the train that shows up first. Twenty people are on the sleeper class waiting list for November 21, and the cost is Rs 2,625. If we look at the individual components of the ticket, we can see that the starting price is Rs 857. The cost of making a reservation is Rs 20, while the cost of getting super-fast service is Rs 30. The thing that is having the most effect is dynamic fare. A breakdown of Rs 1,714 is being shown on Dynamic Fair. That’s right; it’s twice as much as the standard rate. The new price is rapidly approaching three times the former one.
