Mumbai: Airlines are bracing for a possible strike and driving many potential passengers to the railways. But that's not the onlyreason why people want to chug it out these days.
Going rail has become the in thing since the Indian railways have started chugging out a new scheme offering upgrades to passengers on some trains.
Passengers on the August Kranti Express are receiving special surprises and being movged from the Ac two tier to compartment to the First class bogey.
This sudden largesse isn't the result of an expected railway mistake. It's a part of a new railway policy to upgrade passengers free of cost one class above in the event of vacant seats.
Says Nikunj Gupta who was upgraded to a better berth along with his wife, "It was a really nice surprise. We were really happy when we were moved to the first class.'
Chief PRO Western Railway, Shailendra Kumar says, "The upgradation will facilitate customer satisfaction and increase revenue for the railways."
Started on Republic Day this year, this scheme will initially apply only to two trains - the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani and the August Kranti Rajdhani. But, authorities say they have more elaborate plans.
"We want to test the system on two trains first and if all runs smoothly, then we plan to implement this on all trains," says Kumar.
Pushed to the edge in this age of budget airlines, the railways have finally pulled up their socks. Officials hope initiatives such as this will boost train travel.
With larger seats, magazines for company courtesy the railways and sunglasses for that cool look, it's a good start to what will be a long journey.
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