S Railway lifts all restrictions, but wait on for unreserved coaches

S Railway lifts all restrictions, but wait on for unreserved coaches

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:15.11.2021

Southern Railway has lifted all restrictions on travel by suburban trains and has regularised express/mail services from Sunday to the pre-Covid-19 level but people may have to wait longer for unreserved class to be opened up.

Southern Railway is running only limited number of unreserved trains in various sections and also unreserved passengers are permitted only in specified mail/express trains keeping in mind that Covid-19 is not fully eradicated, said a statement. Passengers who prefer to travel by available unreserved coaches or trains will have to book tickets from the counters and not by UTS app because railways want to limit the number of people in a coach to prevent crowding. "Steps are being taken to introduce UTS app booking in the non-suburban sector in a phased manner," said the statement.

T Sadagopan, a consumer activist, said that it was good that train services were brought back to the pre-Covid level but they should resume senior citizen concession, reduce platform ticket charges and unreserved class trains soon. "The railway is going to introduce regular fare for festive specials and others but they should also refund money for those who have already booked tickets on these trains," he added.

As regular express/mail services will be operated on pre-covid schedule and fares, Southern Railway has already updated fares on its data centre in Chennai. "All trains originating from Southern Railway that require fare revision from festival specials to regular services have been updated at Chennai data centre and passengers are booking on old fares now," said an official. As far as train number changes are concerned, CRIS will be carrying out number changes of about 500 trains per day over the next week to complete more than 3000. As travel restrictions have been lifted in suburban trains, passengers will be allowed to travel without any time restrictions on the Chennai Central-Arakkonam, Chennai Central–Gummidipundi/Sullurupeta, Chennai Beach–Chengalpet and Chennai Beach–Velachery sections.

Unreserved single, return journey tickets and season tickets would be issued to all. These tickets can also be booked through UTS mobile app.

PATIENT WAIT: Southern Railway is running only limited number of unreserved trains in various sections