Railways introduces discount scheme for Vande Bharat passengers, details revealed

The Ministry of Railways in India has introduced a discount scheme for passengers traveling in AC chair cars and executive classes, including Vande Bharat Express
The fares for these classes will be reduced by up to 25 percent, depending on occupancy levels, the scheme applies to AC sitting accommodation and aims to optimize utilization
The discount will not be applicable to already booked tickets, and the scheme will be reviewed and adjusted based on occupancy levels,Flexi fare schemes will also be considered, and special holiday or festival trains are excluded from the discount

The Ministry of Railways has announced a discount scheme for passengers traveling on AC chair cars and executive classes of all trains, including Vande Bharat Express. The fares for these classes will be reduced by up to 25 percent, depending on the occupancy levels.

In a statement, the ministry instructed railway zones to introduce the discounted fare scheme for AC trains with sitting accommodation that experienced below 50 percent occupancy over the last 30 days, aiming at optimizing the utilization of accommodation in trains. It is important to note that passengers who have already booked their tickets will not be eligible for a refund under this scheme.Key details of the discount scheme include:

Applicability: The scheme applies to AC Chair Car and Executive classes of all trains with AC sitting accommodation, including Anubhuti and Vistadome coaches.
Discount Percentage: Passengers may receive a maximum discount of 25 percent on the base fare of the ticket. Other charges such as reservation charges, super-fast surcharge, and GST will be levied separately.
Vande Bharat Trains: Passengers booking Vande Bharat trains that have experienced less than 50 percent occupancy in the last 30 days may enjoy up to a 25 percent discount on the base fare. Concerning intermediate Sections, the discount will also apply to intermediate sections of the journey if the occupancy in that section is less than 50 percent.
Duration and Review: The discount scheme will be implemented for a maximum period of six months. The discounted fare may be offered for part duration, month-wise, seasonal, or on weekdays/weekends based on demand patterns during that period. The scheme will be regularly reviewed and subject to modification, extension, or withdrawal based on occupancy levels.
Flexi Fare Schemes & Exclusions: In the case of trains with flexi fare schemes, the railways will initially withdraw the flexi scheme from classes with poor occupancy. The discount scheme will be implemented only if the withdrawal does not lead to an improvement in occupancy. The discount scheme will not be applicable to special trains introduced for holidays or festivals.