In a surprise move Railways followed the Ola and Uber policy and the base fare will keep increasing after every 10 per cent berths or seats are booked and it will stop going up only after it is 1.5 times more. Travelling by high-speed trains like Rajdhani, Duronto or Shatabdi trains is going to cost more under a flexi fare system. Thus, the surge pricing applies to all classes, including second sitting, except for top tier AC first Class and Executive class seats. This essentially means rising train fares during peak holidays and festive seasons. Railways would like to make hay when the sun shines and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has been taking steps to improve the financial health of the organisation through recurring price hikes. Further if any time, the price of a lower class seat becomes more than that of a higher class seat on the same train, the passenger will be informed while booking so that he can choose to upgrade. Thus the surge pricing may find you on the wrong foot and it is time to think twice before you click the mouse for a Railway booking on those three trains.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
