Railways to come up with new flexi-fare

​New Delhi: The railways is all set to come up with a revised flexi-fare scheme next month to bring in some relief for passengers, who, in some sectors pay as much as airfares for the premium trains, sources said.

The ministry is planning to suspend the scheme temporarily as an experiment during lean months in some identified trains as they are seeing occupancy as low as 30 per cent. They said another option being considered is revising the scheme as per a formula used in the Humsafar trains in which the first 50 per cent berths will be sold at a 15 per cent higher price than the base price of A/C-3 tear mail and express train tickets.

The slab will go up with every 10 per cent of the berth sold thereafter. Similarly, the government is also mulling options to bring in special discounts under the scheme in less busy routes. The final shape for such a move will be announced by next week, an official said as its removal would also lead to refunds for advance bookings.