NEW DELHI: In a huge relief for passengers, railways has scrapped flexi-fare in 15 premium trains completely, while the scheme will no longer be applicable in 32 trains during lean periods.It has also reduced flexi fares from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base ticket fare in 101 trains, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said Wednesday.On September 9, 2016, the railways had introduced flexi-fare for premier trains: 44 Rajdhani, 52 Duronto and 46 Shatabdi Express trains.

As a gift to passengers this festive season, Railways has decided to reduce Flexi Fares from 1.5 to 1.4 times the b… https://t.co/vdY2m4cLtj— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) 1540986251000

Under this, the base fare increases by 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of berths sold, subject to a prescribed limit. There was no change in the existing fare for first AC and economy class.”As a gift to passengers this festive season, Railways has decided to reduce Flexi Fares from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base ticket fare, and to completely remove Flexi Fares from trains with less than 50 per cent occupancy,” the minister tweeted.

Win-Win Situation: The reduction of Flexi Fares is going to benefit both the passengers that can now avail tickets… https://t.co/XtDTWr70Lg— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) 1540986782000

“Win-Win Situation: The reduction of Flexi Fares is going to benefit both the passengers that can now avail tickets at cheaper rates, as well the Railways that will see a surge in demand and occupancy,” he said.

??????? ?? ??? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?????: ????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?????? 1.5 ???? ?? ????? 1.4 ????… https://t.co/AYDkvQWlkf— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) 1540990290000

According to a Railway Ministry senior official, the scheme has been discontinued in 15 trains, where the average uni-directional monthly occupancy was less than 50 per cent throughout the year.”The decision would increase occupancy by over 15 per cent due to lower fares,” the official, who declined to be named, told IANS on Wednesday.The official said that the railways had decided to discontinue the flexi-fare in a pre-defined lean period of three months in 32 trains with uni-directional monthly occupancy between 50-75 per cent throughout the last fiscal.The decision assumes significance as it will enable the railways to lure more passengers that it had lost to other means of transport, especially the aviation sector.In addition, the flexi-fare scheme will continue in over 100 trains in which uni-directional monthly occupancy is more than 75 per cent throughout the year.The official also said that the changes shall be made on an experimental basis for six months. “Decision to continue it will be taken after accessing its outcome,” the official added.