The South-Western Railway (SWR) has decided to roll back the imposition of express fares on MEMU/DEMU trains, a decision that had been in effect for over three years. The announcement, communicated to the Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Mysuru divisions on February 22, brings a pause to thousands of passengers in the state. 

Source: The Financial Express

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The recent communication from SWR on February 22 states that all Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU)/Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) and passenger trains, halting at all stations between their origin and destination, will now be charged at the IInd ordinary fare rate. This mirrors the pricing structure employed during the pre-Covid period, providing immediate relief to commuters. 

Following the resumption of local train services post-Covid in 2020, the South-Western Railway had converted numerous MEMU/DEMU and passenger trains into express trains, without a significant reduction in travel time. This conversion had resulted in passengers paying express fares, which were notably higher than the regular fares. With the minimum fare for passenger trains being a mere Rs 10, as opposed to Rs 30 in express trains, this difference could significantly impact the budget of regular commuters. Notably, the Bengaluru division, which operates 108 services, including 20 pairs (40 services) as express trains, would have experienced a considerable impact.

Source: Times of India

Yogesh Mohan, the Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager at SWR, confirmed the implementation of the new fare structure in the Bengaluru division. However, when questioned about the applicability of the decision to other SWR zones, a senior railway official stated that respective zones would independently decide on the matter. This implies that the fare adjustment might not be uniform across all SWR zones, leaving room for regional variations based on the decisions taken by each zone.

The decision to revert to the IInd ordinary fare for MEMU/DEMU and passenger trains is particularly significant in terms of its financial implications for commuters. With the minimum fare in passenger trains standing at Rs 10, the reduction from the Rs 30 express fare provides a substantial relief for those who rely on these local train services for daily commuting.