Rlys may replace Ac-ii-tier with AC-III tier in Rajdhanis, Durontos in some sectors

NEW DELHI: Indian Railways may replace its Ac-ii-tier class with the AC-III tier variety in premium trains like Rajdhanis and Durontos in sectors where the patronage of AC-II is low.

Reason: the flexi-fare scheme, a dynamic pricing mechanism that makes majority of the berths in these trains up to 50 per cent more expensive than the base fare. In AC-II tier, fares are working out to be close to, if not costlier than, flight fares in many sectors.

Although the flexi-fare scheme has brought in around Rs 862 crore extra in earnings in a year to Railways, and the segment of reserved passengers Duronto is close to that of lowcost flights, the national transporter is working out ways of replacing the class with t has seen an over five per cent jump in numbers last fiscal when compared to the previous, it has made certain classes like AC-II and and AC- First Class in many sectors less attractive—sometimes even more expensive—for the passengers who may be shifting to flights offering similar fares. In sectors where the AC-II fare of a Rajdhani or Duronto is close to that of low-cost flights, the national transporter is working out ways of replacing the class with t has seen an over 5% jump in numbers last fiscal when compared to the previous, it has made certain classes like AC-II and and AC- First Class in many sectors less attractive—sometimes even more expensive—for the passengers who may be shifting to flights offering similar fares.