Railway Ministry brings new train classes 3E, Vistadome under upgradation scheme
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The Railway Ministry has amended its upgradation scheme to bring the newly-introduced train classes under its ambit, including Vistadome non-AC, Vistadome coach Executive Anubhuti and Third AC Economy or 3E. "To optimise the utilisation of available accommodation in a train, a scheme to upgrade full fare paying passengers to the next higher class against the available vacant accommodation was introduced in 2006. At present, this scheme is available in all types of trains, including those having sitting accommodation," a ministry circular dated May 13 said.The ministry has reviewed the existing scheme to bring the new train classes - Vistadome non-AC (VS), Vistadome coach (EV), Executive Anubhuti (EA) and 3E - under the hierarchy for upgradation, as these classes were introduced after 2014 when the upgradation scheme was last amended, it said.According to the circular, the hierarchy for an upgradation for sitting accommodation from lower class to upper class is 2S (second seating class), VS, CC (chair car), EC (executive class), EV and EA.Similarly, the hierarchy for sleeping upgradation is sleeper class (SL), 3E, Third AC (3A), AC 2nd class (2A) and AC first class (1A)."The upgradation shall be done up to two classes in the hierarchy, which are available in a particular train with the limitation that the upgradation in 1A and the executive class (EC, EV and EA) shall be restricted to be done only from the just below class, i.e., 2A in case of 1A and CC in case of EC/EV/EA," the circular said.According to a reservation supervisor, since the new classes have been incorporated under the scheme, the hierarchy has become longer with more options.The circular also made provisions for incorporation under the upgradation scheme of any new class that the Railways launches in the future."In case any new class is introduced in the future, the upgradation shall be up to the next two levels based on fare," the circular said.It added, "All passengers who have booked tickets on full fare shall be eligible for the upgrade. The full fare-paying passengers, who are booking under senior citizen/lower berth quotas, may be asked to exercise the upgradation choice cautiously."In case such passengers opt for upgradation, a message should come that in the higher class, you may or may not get a lower berth. The CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems) will make the necessary provisions in the software accordingly."Officials working in the reservation department said that only those passengers who opt for auto-upgradation while booking their tickets will be considered under this scheme."If a 3A waiting passenger has opted for auto upgradation, he/she can be upgraded without paying any extra fare to 2A, provided there is no waiting list of passengers for the 2A class and berths are lying vacant," a reservation supervisor said.This scheme was last amended in 2014 when it was introduced for sitting accommodation in all mail and express trains.Before that, it was applicable for sleeping accommodation in mail and express trains.
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