Shatabdi & Other Express Special Trains will Also Run From May 22, You Can Travel On Waiting Tickets

New Delhi : Other mail and express trains including Shatabdi will soon start running as special trains in the country. Sources associated with the Railway Board said that all preparations have been started for this. Actually till now only Rajdhani Special trains were running. At the same time waiting tickets will also be available in these new special trains. Earlier only confirmed tickets were being booked.

Keeping in mind the possibility of starting Express, Mail and Chair Car Service, Railway Board on Wednesday issued an order to start the provision of waiting list from May 22 for not only its current special trains but all its upcoming trains. However, the railways have fixed the waiting list in these trains as 100 for AC three tires, 50 for AC two tires, 200 for sleeper class, 100 for AC chair car and 20 each for first AC and executive class.

Indian Railways special trains to be notified in future, will have waiting lists from May 22; Maximum waiting list limit- 1AC-20, Executive Class-20, 2AC-50, 3AC-100, AC Chair Car-100, Sleeper-200: Ministry of Railways

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2020

Passengers will be screened –
It must be noted that the Railways had also issued some important guidelines for traveling in special trains. According to this, all the passengers will be screened before the journey and it will be mandatory to wear a mask. Passengers’ body temperature will also be checked. Travelers who are suffering from fever etc. will not be able to undertake this journey. Apart from this, any traveler who has any symptoms of Coronavirus will not be allowed to travel.

Booking will be done through IRCTC website only –
It is clear from these preparations of the railways that Indian Railways has started preparing to run other trains besides special trains. For travel in these trains, booking can be done only from the IRCTC website from May 15. That is, the railway booking counters will still remain closed.

RAC tickets will not be available –
The Railway Ministry has decided not to give RAC tickets in these trains as per the standards of social distancing. Two passengers travel on single seat in RAC tickets which can be fatal this situation in terms of corona infection, hence the Railways has decided not to issue RAC tickets.

Blankets, bed-sheets and towels will not be made available –
Passengers must arrive at the railway station at least one and a half hours before the departure of trains. There, along with their health check-up, thermal screening of each passenger will be done. Blankets, bed-sheets and towels will not be given to those traveling in these trains to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in special trains. AC coaches will be kept at higher temperatures than normal days and care will also be taken to allow maximum fresh air pass within the coaches.

All tickets can be canceled on one PNR –
The guideline states that if a passenger has very high temperature or signs of corona during screening, he / she will not be allowed to travel despite having a confirmed ticket. In such a case, the passenger will be provided full return. The guideline states that if a passenger on a group ticket is found unfit to travel and all other passengers on the same PNR also do not wish to travel, a full refund will be allowed for all passengers in that situation.