Taking cue from the airlines, cash-strapped railways is introducing dynamic fare system by which tariff will be determined by the demand with an aim of boosting its revenues.
The new system of fares will be experimented on four trips of premium AC-special trains which will operate between New Delhi and Mumbai during the upcoming festive season of Christmas and New Year.
There will be four trips from December 24, 2013 till January 2, 2014 of the premium AC special trains on the busy New Delhi-Mumbai sector, said a senior Railway Ministry official, adding, "Tickets will be sold on higher rate than the existing rate as per the dynamic pricing policy."
The premier AC special trains will have only AC-2 and AC-3 classes with Rajdhani-like facility including catering.
The airlines have been successfully utilising the dynamic fare system to boost revenues. The railways, which is facing revenue deficit to the tune of about Rs 26,000 crore per year, is decided to experiment this system with an aim of earning extra cash.
The advance reservation period for this train will be 15 days only and the fare shall be equal to or higher than the Rajdhani Tatkal fare to begin with.
"The fare is also likely to increase depending on the demand intensity," the official said.
"We will be running four trips on December 24, 27, 30 and January 2 from Delhi and in return journey there will be three trips on December 26, 29 and January 1 on experimental basis," he said.
There will be no commercial stoppages en route for this train. The trains shall originate and terminate at New Delhi and Mumbai Central stations.
