Ministry of Railways Undertakes an Exercise of Rationalisation of Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS)

Ministry of Railways Undertakes an Exercise of Rationalisation of Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS)

The Exercise to Benefit Railway Passengers with Additional Booking Facilities

The Booking of Reserved Tickets on PRS Counters as well as on Internet (E-Ticket) Becomes Available Even After the Preparation of Reservation Chart

The Provisions of Rationalization Exercise Hasto Come into Effect from 12th November, 2015 (Thursday)
In a significant move to provide additional booking facilities, Ministry of Railways has undertaken an exercise of rationalization of Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) with a view to enable passengers to buy tickets even after the preparation of reservation charts. These new provisions will come into effect from 12th November, 2015. The rationalization exercise will also facilitate implementation of revised refund rules (notified recently) which will also become effective from 12th November, 2015. Under this exercise, sufficient time gap will be provided to passengers between preparation of charts and departure of train so that they can plan journeys properly.


The following are the advantages of rationalization of computerized Passenger Reservation System : -

a) Reservation charts will invariably be made at least 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and in case if the same are not made by the charting section, the system will automatically finalise them 4 hours before the scheduled departure of train(w.e.f. 18th November 2015). This will facilitate passengers to know the status of the ticket to plan their journey well in time. (this may be referred as the first reservation chart)

b) Immediately after preparation of first reservation charts, the reservation will again become open at the PRS counters as well as on internet (e-ticket) and the passengers can:-

• Book the available accommodation in the train for full/partial leg of the journey, in case there is no RAC/waitlist for that leg.
• In case of passengers holding RAC/waiting list ticket, the passengers will be given facility to cancel the ticket up to 30 minutes before the scheduled departure of train. This will facilitate the passengers, particularly partially confirmed passengers, to decide either to undertake the journey or to cancel their ticket.

c) A second (and final) chart of reservations will be made available before departure of train and handed over to onboard ticket checking staff.

This exercise will ensure optimum utilization of train accommodation as well as enhanced earnings.

d) For the present, the condition for printing of first reservation charts at least four hours before departure of train shall be applicable in case of train originating station.

Under the above mentioned rationalization, the passengers can book / cancel / modify the tickets even after the preparation of first reservation chart but only upto 30 minutes before the departure of train across any PRS Counters as well as on internet (E-ticket) as per extant provision of Refund Rules. In case of e-tickets where after preparation of first reservation charts, passengers had the option to only file online Ticket Deposit Receipt and to request for refund, now will have the facility to modify/cancel the partially confirmed ticket and get refund electronically. Passengers holding PRS counter ticket / I-ticket will now be saved from the botheration of going only to current reservation counter at the journey originating station to book / cancel / modify ticket after the preparation of first reservation chart as per refund rules. They can now go to any PRS counter. Additionally, the facility will continue to be available at current reservation counters, wherever required. Later, this facility is also proposed be made available at some designated UTS counters at stations for which the work is under progress.

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Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) called “VIKALP” to be Introduced from Tomorrow i.e. 1.11.2015 on Pilot Basis

Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) called “VIKALP” to be Introduced from Tomorrow i.e. 1.11.2015 on Pilot Basis

Ministry of Railways

31-October, 2015

A Major Passenger Friendly move to Provide Confirmed Accommodation to Waitlisted Passengers in Alternate Trains
Facility to be Available Initially for E-Ticket (Internet Booking) Only
The Scheme to be Available Initially on Mail/ Express Trains of Two Sectors Namely Delhi –Lucknow and Delhi –Jammu
Later, The Scheme to be Extended to PRS Counter Bookings as well as on Other Journey Sectors

• With a view to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, a scheme Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme(ATAS) called “VIKALP” has been conceptualised and is to be introduced from tomorrow i.e. 1.11.2015. Initially this scheme will be available only for the tickets booked through internet (E-ticket) as a pilot project for six months. More over initially this scheme would be provided on Mail/ Express Trains running on two sectors only namely Delhi-Lucknow and Delhi-Jammu sectors of Northern Railway. In this scheme, wait listed passengers of a train will be given option for getting confirmed accommodation in alternate trains. Based on the feedback, this scheme will be extended to PRS counter bookings and also on other journey sectors. This is a major passenger friendly move to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers in alternate trains.

Salient Features of the scheme

• The Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) is presently being launched under the name “Vikalp” on pilot basis only for the tickets booked through internet (E-ticket) on two sectors i.e. Delhi-Jammu and Delhi-Lucknow sectors. Based on the feedback it will be extended on PRS as well as on other sectors.
• The scheme is presently being implemented only across Mail/Express trains of same category.
• No extra charges shall be taken from passenger or any refund shall be provided for difference of fare.
• The scheme is applicable to all waiting list passengers irrespective of booking quota and concession. In pilot phase the scheme will be available on few pre-designated trains in the above sectors only.
• Under this scheme, waiting list passengers will give choice to opt for ATAS scheme.
• ATAS opted passengers who remain fully waitlisted after charting will only be considered for allotment in the alternate train.
• Fully WL passengers opted for ATAS should check PNR status after charting.
• Either all passengers of a PNR or none will be transferred to alternate train in same class. The passenger can be considered for shifting to a train leaving from any station amongst the cluster of stations defined by Railways based on the convenience of the passengers to a station serving the destination station on the same analogy.
• The ATAS opted passengers who have been provided accommodation in the alternate train will not figure in the waitlisted charts of their original train. A separate list of passengers transferred in alternate train will be pasted along with the CONFIRMED and WAITLIST charts.
• The passenger allotted alternate accommodation can travel in the alternate train on authority of original ticket.
• Waitlisted passengers of original train shall not be allowed to board the original train if allotted alternate accommodation. If found travelling, they will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.
• Passengers once provided alternate accommodation in alternate train will be treated as normal passengers in alternate train and will be eligible for upgradation.
• In rare situations, passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation might get dropped/re-allotted in alternate train due to last minute change in composition of the alternate train at the time of chart preparation. So, passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation should check PNR status also after preparation of charts of the alternate train for final status.
• This information will be available on Call Centre (139), PRS Enquiry Counters, Passenger Operated Enquiry Terminals installed at stations and WEB ENQUIRY on www.indianrail.gov.in.
• Passenger will also get SMS alert on their Registered mobile phone number about getting confirmed alternate accommodation.
• When an ATAS opted passenger opts to cancel, after he/she has been given an alternate accommodation, he/she will be treated as a CONFIRMED passenger and the cancellation rules will apply accordingly.
• No refund for difference of fare between the original train and the alternate train, including Tatkal charges, if any, will be given to re-allocated passengers.
• Once an ATAS passenger has been allotted alternate accommodation, journey modification will not be permitted. If required, the passenger will have to cancel the ticket and book a fresh ticket for modified journey.
• When a passenger who has been allotted alternate accommodation has not performed his journey in the alternate train, he can claim for refunds by filing a TDR request.

IMPORTANT PASSENGER INFORMATION

1. Opting for VIKALP does not mean that confirmed berth will be provided to passengers in alternate train. It is subject to train and berth availability.
2. Once confirmed in Alternate train, Cancellation charges will be as per your berth/train status in alternate train.
3. In this scheme, your boarding and terminating station might change to nearby cluster stations.
4. You can be transferred to any alternate train available within 12 hrs from the scheduled departure of original train, in which you have booked
5. Please check PNR status after charting.

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