Railways adds 'superfast' tag to trains to hike fares, passengers miffed

HUBBALLI: The railways have not hiked train fares for unreserved tickets since 2014. However, it increased the fares in October 2022, by giving some trains 'superfast' status. Several passenger trains and fast passenger trains have been renamed 'passenger special' after suffering huge losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the fare has almost doubled. Activists and regular passengers are complaining that they are being fleeced without any changes in the train speed or services.
Rohit S Jain, secretary, South Western Railway (SWR) Passengers Committee, noted that Hubballi-Bengaluru City-Hubballi fast passenger was like a lifeline for the poor of North Karnataka before the pandemic. "SWR converted it as an express with train numbers 17391 and 17392 and the fare was almost doubled though this train stops at all 31 stations on the route. The same happened with the Hubballi-Chitradurga-Hubballi and Hubballi-Arsikere-Hubballi express trains that were running as passenger trains earlier. Vijayapura-Mangaluru-Vijayapura train is running with a 'special' tag to collect 1.5 times higher fare for three years. As per norms, 'special' trains are run for six months to one year. Nowadays SWR is running 'trains on demand' with higher fare wherever bus operation is more, and officials are comparing the fare with bus fares. However, neither stoppages are reduced, nor facilities are increased in these 'fake' expresses," he alleged.
Prof Bhargav HK, a frequent traveller from Gadag, noted that such trains are more in North Karnataka and poor passengers are being cheated openly. "Hubballi-Tirupati-Hubballi train was a fast passenger before the pandemic. Now it's a 'passenger special' bearing number 07657 and 07658 to collect superfast fare. The Solapur-Gadag-Solapur Demu train was an ordinary train but now it is an express that has stoppages at all stations," he complained.
Kalyana Karnataka Grahakara Vedike, Kalaburagi president Sunil Kulkarni said that Railways has openly said in the Lok Sabha and on its website that it is getting only 40% returns against its 100% expenses. "Without increasing the fare, they are trying to maximise revenue. That is why they have not resumed 10% of passenger trains across the county after the pandemic. Almost 50% of passenger trains are not resumed in Kalyana Karnataka. Passengers are forced to travel by express and superfast express trains while smaller stations are getting deprived of trains. At the other end, sleeper and general coaches are being reduced while the number of AC coaches is being increased. If Kalaburagi passengers want berths, they must book tickets from Solapur as the quota is more there for Basava Express," he said.
When contacted, SWR, Hubballi chief public relations officer Aneesh Hegde said the fares were as per the policy of the Railway Board.