Feel lucky: Now you may travel in premium trains with an ordinary express train ticket

From April 1, railway passengers can avail the opportunity of travelling in premium trains like Rajdhani Express or Shatabdi Express even if a traveller has booked tickets in other Express trains for the same destination. The scheme has been named as Vikalp and if a passenger opts for the scheme while booking tickets, he or she will get SMS alert on mobile phone about getting confirmed accommodation in an alternative train.

Indian Railways is launching a new scheme from the new financial year under which waitlisted passengers can get confirmed accommodation in the next alternative trains if they opt for the specific option while booking their tickets. According to the scheme, there would be no extra charge levied on the passengers or any refund provided for the difference of fare.

For the changed remedy, Indian Railways has to sacrifice about Rs 7500 crore in a year in refund to customers for cancellation of tickets for various reasons.