The statement also clarified that “shramik (worker)” – trains being run to transport stranded migrants back to their home states – and “special” passenger trains – that this week started running between Delhi and 15 major stations – will continue to operate as scheduled.
In an indication that it might soon start mail, express as well as chair car services, the Railway Board on May 13 issued an order introducing the provision of waiting list tickets not only for its operational special trains but for more such trains “to be notified in due course”.
While in present special trains only confirmed tickets are booked, the wait listed tickets will now be available for bookings opening on May 15 for journeys beginning from May 22.
The railways has, however, capped the waiting list on these trains — up to 100 for AC 3 Tier, 50 for AC 2 Tier, 200 for Sleeper Class, 100 for Chair Cars and 20 each for First AC and Executive Class.
The order from the railway board to zones indicates that the railways is planning to run mixed services instead of the presently all air-conditioned trains. This also means that it could begin services to smaller towns along with the major cities that its Rajdhani specials are catering to now.
Neither Tatkal or Premium Tatkal Quota nor senior citizen quota will be available on these trains. Reservation against Cancellation (RAC) tickets will also not be allowed.
No waiting ticket holder will be allowed to travel, officials said, adding that they will get full refund.
So far, there is no order from the railways to begin more services.
Last month, according to the reports, the Railways refunded around Rs 1,490 crore after 94 lakh tickets, booked before the lockdown was imposed, were canceled. A further Rs 830 crore was refunded for travel planned between March 22 and April 14, the first phase of the lockdown.
All non-essential trains, including passenger services, had been suspended since March 22, three days before the start of a nationwide lockdown to break the coronavirus chain of transmission.
However, on Sunday the Railways announced plans to restart passenger trains in a phased manner, five days before the end of the third phase of the coronavirus lockdown, as the government looks to re-start normal life and boost the national economy.
These “special” trains (15 trains, 30 journeys), the first of which departed on Tuesday, will leave from Delhi and connect cities in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Tripura.
The Railways has also run 642 “shramik” special trains as of Wednesday. These trains have carried around 7.9 lakh migrants and others stranded amid the coronavirus lockdown back to their home states.
Also read: Delhi Metro may resume its operations post lockdown 3.0: Important details here
