In a major relief to passengers, the Indian Railways yesterday released a list of 200 special trains that will run from June 1.
These will be fully reserved trains having both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned classes, it said, adding bookings will start today.
A Railway Ministry spokesman said the railways, in consultation with the Ministries of Health & Family Welfare and Home Affairs, has decided that train services will be further partially restored from June 1.
However, other regular passenger services including all mail/express, passenger and suburban services would remain suspended until further notice, he said.
Bookings for the special trains will start at 10am today through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of the railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had announced a day earlier that 200 special trains would start running from June 1.
The railways has been operating Shramik special trains to transport stranded migrant workers, tourists, pilgrims and students from May 1, and from May 12 began 15 pairs of special air-conditioned trains.
The spokesman said these 200 special trains will be fully reserved.
“General coaches shall also have reserved seat for sitting. There will be no unreserved coach in the train,” he said in a statement.
He said only online e-ticketing will be done through IRCTC website or through mobile app.
“No tickets will be booked across the reservation counter of any railway station. Booking through ‘agents’ – both IRCTC and railway – shall not be permitted,” he said, adding that the advance reservation period will be 30 days.
The spokesman said wait-listed and reservation against cancellation tickets will also be generated.
“However, passengers with wait-listed ticket will not be allowed to board the train,” he said.
No tickets will be issued onboard to any passenger during the journey and no Tatkal and premium Tatkal booking would be permitted on these trains, he added.
According to the spokesman, the first passenger chart will be prepared at least four hours before departure and second at least two hours, unlike the present practice of 30 minutes.
He said all passengers would be compulsorily screened and only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to enter the train.
The railways also said all quotas would be permitted as in regular trains.
“Limited number of reservation counters shall be operated for this purpose. However, normal ticket booking cannot be done through these counters,” the spokesman said.
Passengers were advised to arrive at the station 90 minutes before departure, and wear facemasks.
The spokesman also said that on arrival at their destination, the passengers will have to adhere to the health protocols prescribed by the destination city.
He said the fare would not include catering charges.
“Provision for prepaid meal booking, e-catering shall be disabled. However, IRCTC shall make provision for limited eatables and packaged drinking water on payment basis only in limited trains, having pantry car attached,” he said, urging the passengers to carry their own food and drinking water.
The spokesman said that no linen, blankets and curtains would be provided inside the train.
“Passengers are advised to carry their own linen for the travel. The temperature inside AC coaches shall be suitably regulated for this purpose,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Railway Ministry has ordered reopening of all vendors and shops on railway platforms with immediate effect.
In an order issued by the Railway Board and addressed to all zonal railways, it said, “Zonal Railways and IRCTC are advised to take necessary actions for opening of all static catering and vending units at railway stations with immediate effect”.
However, it said that in the case of food plazas and refreshment rooms, only takeaways will be permitted and not sit-down eating arrangements.
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