The railways will start issuing limited waitlisted tickets from May 15 for the AC special trains being run between Delhi and 15 cities even as the government is working on plans to run more special trains in the near future as part of its strategy to restore passenger services gradually, sources said. The waitlisted tickets will be issued for travel dates starting from May 22 onwards on these trains.
The national transporter on Wednesday indicated that it might soon start mail or express trains as chair-car services in the coming days as well.
Waiting list introduced
The Railway Board on Wednesday issued an order introducing the provision of waiting list not only in its present operational special trains for journeys starting May 22 but also for all its forthcoming services.
Waiting list numbers capped
It 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 — truncating the queues for confirmed tickets significantly.
The order from the railway board to zones indicates that the railways is planning to run mixed services instead of the present 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.
The fresh order from the railways also indicates that the national transporter might begin services to smaller towns along with the major cities that its Rajdhani specials cater to now.
The railways has also started to run Shramik Special trains to transport stranded migrant workers, students, pilgrims and tourists from May 1.
