The Suvidha Express also called as Premium Express[1] series of trains were introduced by Indian Railways in 2014 for the 1st time which is operated in busiest routes.[2] They were intended to follow dynamic pricing in fares similar to that of airlines contrary to the standard one fare for one class of travel generally followed by Indian Railways.[3][4][5] Priority of Premium trains are above Superfast and Mail/Express trains[6] like Shatabdi Express, Duronto Express and Rajdhani Express. At present only 2 services are operated as a regular service.[7][8]

Suvidha Express (Premium Express)
Suvidha Express at Visakhapatnam Junction
Main Operation(s)India 2014 -
Fleet size28
Parent companyIndian Railways
Other
Websitewww.indianrail.gov.in

Overview

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The Premium AC special train from Mumbai to Delhi was the first train which was launched on 24 December 2013 during festive season of Christmas and New Year.[3] The train's maiden journey earned 48 percent more than the Mumbai — Delhi Rajdhani that ran during the same period.[9] Encouraged by the successful run of the Mumbai-Delhi premium train,[5] In Railway budget 2014, D. V. Sadananda Gowda, the railway minister announced 5 more such premium AC-special trains on busy routes.[10]

Features

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  1. Dynamic fare pricing will be followed in this type of train with fare being increased for subsequent bookings.
  2. Only a 10-30 days Advance reservation period will be permitted for this train with no agent booking allowed.
  3. There will be no provision for waitlisted ticket. Only RAC & Confirmed tickets are permitted to on-board.
  4. Tickets will be issued & booking is permitted through IRCTC's website & PRS counters.
  5. There will be no quota for ladies/tatkal etc. Only general quota is available & No concession (senior citizen, disabled etc.), modification, upgradation, duplicate ticket, cluster bookings, BPT is permitted in this trains.
  6. Identity card details are required at the time of booking tickets.
  7. No cancellation is permitted with the only exception being if Indian Railways cancels the train.
  8. Vacant seats after charting will be available at the respective current booking counters of the train originating station.

Numbering

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As similar to the other trains of Indian Railways, these trains also have five digits. Only change is that, the first digit (from Left) is 8. Example: 82615.

Routes

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Number Train Name
82117/82118 Pune Jn - Manduadih(MUV) Pune Suvidha Special Express
82407/82408 Howrah - Anand Vihar Suvidha Special Express
82303/82304 Howrah - Jammu Tawi Suvidha Special Express
82305/82306 Howrah - New Jalpaiguri Suvidha Special Express
82307/82308 Sealdah - Guwahati Suvidha Special Express
82503/82504 Kamakhya - Anand Vihar Suvidha Special Express
82505/82506 Pune - Kamakhya Suvidha Special Express
82601/82602 Chennai Egmore - Tirunelveli Suvidha Special Express
82608/82609 Nagercoil - Chennai Egmore Suvidha Special Express
82635/82636 Chennai Central - Kollam Suvidha Special Express
82632/82633 Ernakulam – Chennai Central Suvidha Special Express
82642/82643 Kochuveli - Guwahati Suvidha Special Express
82651/82652 Yesvantpur - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Suvidha Express
82801/82802 Howrah - Ernakulam Suvidha Special Express
82831/82832 Sambalpur - Yesvantpur Suvidha Special Express
82853/82854 Visakhapatnam - Villupuram Suvidha Special Express
82901/82902 Mumbai Central New Delhi AC Suvidha Special Express
82907/82908 Mumbai Central - Lucknow Suvidha Special Express
82909/82910 Bandra Terminus - Gorakhpur Suvidha Special Express
82912/82913 Chhapra - Valsad Suvidha Special Express
82507/82508 Visakhapatnam - Subedarganj Suvidha Special Express
82355/82356 Mumbai CSMT - Patna Suvidha Express
82653/82654 Jaipur - Yesvantpur Suvidha Express

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jayanta Roy Chowdhury And R. Suryamurthy (13 February 2014). "Rail tastes premium blood and likes it". Telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. ^ "ECR to run weekly Premium Special Train between Patna-Bangalore". railnews.co.in. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Railways to introduce dynamic fares in festive season". Livemint. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. ^ Today, Mail (11 March 2014). "Train ticket prices take off like airfares — Yahoo India Finance". In.finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b PTI (31 December 2013). "More premier trains with dynamic fares in 17 busy routes — Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  6. ^ K. Balchand (12 February 2014). "Dynamic fares on 17 new trains". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Jaipur-Bengaluru rail ticket for Rs 11000 forces review of surge pricing". The Times of India. 18 November 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  8. ^ Staff, O. T. (20 November 2023). "Suvidha Trains: Backlash Prompts Railways To Review Fare Surge". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  9. ^ DNA Correspondent (13 February 2014). "Few premium trains, few express, Mumbai gets something to cheer | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Railways to run 17 premium AC-special trains on busy routes". The Indian Express. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
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