Indian Railway Rates and Fares PDF

1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201. The impo...

1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201. The important subjects dealt with in this branch are as under:— (a) Passenger fares and rates and charges for other Coaching Traffic, such as. Parcels. Luggage, etc. (b) Concession Tickets and Season Tickets. (c) Classification of goods and rates for goods traffic. (d) Conditions attached to rates for Goods and Coaching Traffic, such as. risk, minimum weight, packing, etc. (e) Quotation of rates and fares to the public. (f) Compilation and maintenance of Rate Registers. (g) Adjustment of rates and fares. (h) Cases pertaining to the Railway Rates Tribunal. (i) Railway Tariffs. Rate Circulars. Rate Advices. Distance Table Books and Departmental Notifications. (j) Siding charges. (k) Quotation of station to station rates, and lump sum rates. Rates and Fares for Goods and Coaching Traffic 202. The power to fix rates for the carriage of passengers and goods traffic has been vested in the Central Government vide Section 30 of the Railways Act. 1989 reproduced below :— "Power to fix rates 30. (1) The Central Government may, from time to time, by general or special order fix. for the carriage of passengers and goods, rates for the whole or any part of the railway and different rates may be fixed for different classes of goods and specify in such order the conditions subject to which such rates shall apply, (2) The Central Government may. by a like order, fix the rates of any other charges incidental to or connected with such carriage including demurrage and wharfage for the whole or any part of the railway and specify in the order the conditions subject to which such rates shall apply." 203. Similarly, the powers to classify or re-classify any commodity for the purpose of determining the rates to be charged for the carriage of such commodities and to increase or reduce the class rates and other charges has also been vested in the Central Government in accordance with Section 31 of the Railways Act, 1989. 204. The general classification of goods for Indian Railways and the rates and fares charged for various classes of goods, parcels, luggage and passenger traffic sanctioned by the Central Government, arc published in the I. R. C. A (Indian Railway Conference Association) Goods and Coaching Tariffs for the time being in force. Fixation of Tentative Classification for Commodities not already Classified in the Goods Tariff 205. Whenever a new product not already classified in the Goods Tariff is offered for booking, https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRCTCD/TrafficCommericalDepartmentCh2_data.htm#201. 1/5 1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 the originating Railway may fix a tentative classification for the movement of the traffic both in local booking and through booking, and simultaneously make a reference to the Railway Board for their approval of the tentative classifications so fixed. The tentative classification thus fixed by the originating Railway shall hold good for the traffic booked from stations on that Railway both in local and through booking until the matter is examined and a tentative or final classification is notified by the Railway Board for applications to all streams of traffic in that commodity. Minimum Weight Conditions for Traffic in Wagon Loads 206. The standard minimum weight conditions to be attached to wagon load rates are published in the Indian Railway Conference Association Goods Tariff for the time being in force. If it is found by a Railway Administration that the minimum weight conditions attached to a particular commodity need revision, test weighments should he conducted by that Railway Administration and matter referred to Railway Board with test weighment results and full justification for the change proposed. Quotation of Station to Station Rates 207. Subject to the provisions of Section 32 of the Railways Act, 1989, station to station rates may be quoted by the Railway Administration between specific points for goods and parcel traffic whenever there is justification to do so subject to the conditions given in the succeeding paragraphs. 208. Station to Station rates may be quoted only with the personal approval of the GM and with the concurrence: of the FA & CAO. The proposal for quotation of station to station rates should be submitted to General Manager through the Chief Commercial Manager and the Chief Operating Manager. Conditions for Quotation of Station to Station Rates for Goods traffic 209. Railways may reduce rates subject to the following provisions:— (a) No reduction is permitted in the rates for commodities chargeable at class 80 and below in trainloads and wagonloads and class 150 and below in Smalls. (b) No reduction is permitted in the rates for Coal, Coal Shale, soft coke, lignite, patent fuel and Middlings and Livestock. (c) No reduction is also permitted in the rates for petroleum and other hydrocarbon oils, dangerous and non-dangerous. (d) Station to station rates should not be quoted below the level of rates at class 80 for trainloads and wagonloads and class 150 for Smalls. (e) For trainload/wagonload traffic, no reduction is permitted in respect of movements for less than 150 KMs. and for Small traffic, no reduction is permitted in respect of movements for less than 500 KMs (f) In respect of movements involving break of gauge transhipment, the railways arc permitted to quote station to station rates. 210. Reduction in rates on commercial considerations will mean quotation of special rates with a view to retaining/attracting traffic to rail in order to secure net additional earnings. 211. The rates quoted should cover the incremental costs, that is, the additional cost to be incurred by the Railways for moving additional traffic. 212. In respect of traffic involving more than one railway, the station to station rates may be quoted by the Railway on which the traffic originates. However, the railways over which the traffic moves/terminates should be given prior intimation of the rates so quoted. 213. All reduced rates may be quoted for a period of not more than eighteen months. 214. All cases with brief particulars of the quotation of reduced rates should be reported to https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRCTCD/TrafficCommericalDepartmentCh2_data.htm#201. 2/5 1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 Board for their information as soon after the introduction of such rates as may be possible. 215. Railway Board's prior approval should be obtained where it is proposed to quote reduced rates :— (a) below the rate reducing powers of railways indicated in para 209 above. (b) within the rate reducing powers of railways but for any purpose other than on commercial considerations (c) for goods traffic in trainloads/wagonloads moving less than 150 KMs or for goods traffic in Smalls moving less than 500 KMs. (d) for traffic in livestock. (e) for traffic in petroleum and other hydrocarbon oils-dangerous and non-dangerous. Conditions for Quotation of Station to Station Rates for Parcel traffic 216. Railways may quote lump sum wagonload station to station rates for parcel traffic charged under G. P. A. Scale, CP-1 and CP-2 Scale subject to the following conditions :— (i) the rate thus reduced does not fall below the rate chargeable under CP-2 Scale less 10% for the corresponding distance; (ii) The rate is quoted only on commercial considerations with a view to retaining/attracting traffic to rail in order to secure net additional earning. 217. Proposals for reduction in rates may be initiated by the Railway on which traffic originates in consultation with the other Railways concerned but financial concurrence need by obtained only from the FA & CAO of the Railway on which the traffic originates. However, the Railways over which the traffic moves/terminates should be given prior intimation of the rates so granted. 218. All reduced rates may be quoted for a period of not more than eighteen months. 219. All cases with brief particulars of the quotation of reduced rates should be reported to Board for their information as soon after the introduction of such rates as may be possible. 220. Railway Board's prior approval should be obtained where it is proposed to quote reduced rates :— (a) below the rate reducing powers of railways indicated in Para 216 above. (b) within the rate reducing powers of railways but for any purpose other than on commercial considerations; (c) for traffic in livestock; and (d) for coaching traffic other than parcels. Quotation of Lumpsum Rates 221. Section 32 of the Railways Act, 1989 gives powers to the Railway Administration to charge any lump sum rate for carriage of any commodity. The term "lump sum rate" has been defined in Section 2(24) of the Railway Act, 1989 as follows:— "2.(24) 'lump sum rate' means the rate mutually agreed upon between a railway administration and a consignor for the carriage of goods and for any service in relation to such carriage". The mutually agreed rate mentioned above can be higher than the normal tariff rate, the extent of increase depending upon the special service provided by the Railway in relation to the carriage of goods for which the lump sum rate is quoted. https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRCTCD/TrafficCommericalDepartmentCh2_data.htm#201. 3/5 1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 222. Railways should maintain statistics of the traffic moving at reduced rates and review them periodically at intervals of not more than twelve months, such adjustments being made therein as may be called for. Details of rates quoted or of changes made in the existing special rates should be advised to the Board at the end of each month in the following proforma:— Particulars Normal Quantum of Earnings Reduced Quantum Earnings Difference of the freight traffic at (Cols. rate of traffic (Cols. between case normal rate 2x3) during 5x6) Col. 4 during 12 12 and 7 months months prior to after the introduction reduction of special in rate rate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 * Particulars of the case should show the name of commodity, stations from and to, and distance and the date of introduction of special rates. Notice of Enhancement of Rates 223. (a) Any change of rates etc. payable by the public may be made through Circular/Notification/Letter issued by Railway Board clearly mentioning the date of effect. (b) Except where the date of effect has been fixed and notified by the Board, all change in rates etc. May be given effect after allowing 14 days time from the date of issue of the Board’s Circular/Notification/Letter (including the rate of issue) irrespective of whether the Circular/Notification/Letter is addressed to General Secretary IRCA or to the Railway Administrations. (c) Where the words with immediate effect have been used in the Board’s Circular/Notification/Letter notifying the changes in rates etc. the change will take effect from the date of issue of the Board’s Circular/Notification/Letter. (Authority Board letter No.TCR/1078/2014/22 dated 12.05.2015 Rates Circular No 17 of 2015) 224. Each railway should publish the designation of the authority from whom authentic information may be had in regard to the rates for goods and coaching traffic and the condition subject to which these apply. On application for the quotation of a rate, such authority should promptly furnish the required information. The conditions regarding risk, minimum weight etc. subject to which the rate quoted applies, should always be clearly indicated. 225. A quotation made by the competent authority should be of the rate existing on the day the quotation is made, and this should be made clear in the quotation. When it is known that a rate is to be altered within a month, the revised rate should also be quoted indicating the date from which it will become effective. Railway Rates Tribunal 226. The constitution, functions and powers of the Railway Rates Tribunal are detailed in Chapter VII of the Railways Act, 1989. 227. The rules made by the Railway Rates Tribunal, with the approval of the Central Government regarding its practice and procedure and generally for effective discharge of its functions appear in Appendix III. 228. Great care should be exercised in preparing cases coming up before the Tribunal. The Chief Commercial Manager should personally interest himself in all such cases and the Railway Board should also be kept advised of their progress at different stages. https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRCTCD/TrafficCommericalDepartmentCh2_data.htm#201. 4/5 1/27/25, 8:35 PM CHAPTER II RATES AND FARES Rates Branch 201 229. Eminent lawyers, such as, the Advocates -General of States should be engaged for defending important cases involving basic principles having considerable financial import. ***********-------------******* https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/codesmanual/IRCTCD/TrafficCommericalDepartmentCh2_data.htm#201. 5/5