A consumer commission in Tamil Nadu has directed Southern Railway and the Railway Board to pay Rs 5,330 to a passenger who was charged express train fares while travelling on what continued to operate like an ordinary passenger train.
The commission found that the Railways had collected higher fares without making corresponding changes to the train’s speed, timings, stoppages or other features. It classified the practice as a deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
Passenger Charged Rs 125 Instead of Rs 65
The complaint concerned journeys between Karwar and Mangalore Central in 2024.
The passenger said he travelled on the same train in April, May and August. During his two solo journeys, he was charged Rs 125 each time, although the applicable ordinary passenger fare was Rs 65.
In May, he travelled with his wife, son and daughter. The ticket for three adults and one child cost Rs 440, again reflecting the higher express fare.
The passenger argued that the train had operated as an ordinary passenger service before the COVID-19 pandemic but was subsequently designated an express special train without any meaningful operational changes.
Why the Railways Defended the Higher Fare
Southern Railway argued that the service had been upgraded from a passenger train to a special train after the pandemic and that fares were therefore charged accordingly.
It also maintained that the Railway Board had the authority to designate trains as special services and determine the applicable fare structure. According to the Railways, the decision was an administrative and policy matter that passengers could not challenge.
However, the consumer commission examined whether the actual service provided justified the higher fare.
Consumer Commission Says a Train’s Name Is Not Enough
In its September 17 order, the commission observed that simply calling an ordinary passenger service an express special train did not automatically justify collecting express fares.
It noted that passengers paying express fares should receive the corresponding facilities and features of an express service.
The commission found that the train continued operating without changes to its speed, stoppages, timings, route or other features. It also observed that COVID-19 restrictions had been completely lifted on March 31, 2022, and that there was no continuing festival or special occasion in the Konkan region to justify operating the service as a special train for more than two years.
The commission consequently held that charging the higher fare under these circumstances amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
How Much Must the Railways Pay?
The commission directed the railway authorities to jointly pay the passenger Rs 5,330, divided as follows:
- Rs 330 as a refund of the excess fare collected from the passenger and his family.
- Rs 3,000 as compensation for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.
- Rs 2,000 for the mental agony caused to the passenger.
The ruling provides relief to the complainant and highlights the importance of matching railway fares with the actual service offered to passengers.
What the Decision Means for Railway Passengers
The order does not mean that all special or express trains must charge ordinary passenger fares. Instead, it addresses a specific situation in which the commission found that the train’s designation and higher fare were not supported by corresponding changes in service.
For passengers, the decision reinforces that railway fare classifications and the facilities provided should be consistent.
Summary
A Tamil Nadu consumer commission has ordered Southern Railway and the Railway Board to pay Rs 5,330 to a passenger charged express fares on an ordinary passenger train. The passenger was charged Rs 125 instead of Rs 65 for solo journeys. The commission found that the train’s speed, timings and stoppages remained unchanged, making the higher fare an unfair trade practice.
