Railway passengers are slated to receive significant financial relief as authorities prepare to reclassify 18 trains operating across key national routes starting January 1. These services will lose their superfast status and will be transitioned into the standard express category, directly driving down travel expenses by up to Rs 75 per journey. Among the prominent services identified for this operational shift are the Sapt Kranti connecting Muzaffarpur and Anand Vihar, the Shramjeevi running between Rajgir and New Delhi, and the Purnagiri Jan Shatabdi operating between Tanakpur and Delhi.
Speed Shortfall Triggers Reclassification Review
Under the established guidelines of the Railway Board, a train qualifies for the superfast designation exclusively if it sustains an overall average operating speed of at least 55 kilometres per hour across both up and down directions. Thorough periodic reviews revealed that these specific trains consistently fell short of meeting this mandatory velocity threshold. The slowdown has been largely caused by operational bottlenecks, the introduction of additional intermediate stoppages along their itineraries, and intensifying traffic congestion across heavily burdened rail corridors.
Annual Schedule Revision and New Service Identifiers
Railway administrators routinely evaluate train velocities during the rollout of new timetables and periodic performance audits. Alongside stripping the superfast branding, the administration has also assigned new operational service numbers to all 18 affected trains. This numbering revision specifically covers both directions of the high-demand Sapt Kranti service, running between Muzaffarpur and Anand Vihar as well as its return leg from Anand Vihar to Muzaffarpur.
Breakdown of Class-Wise Fare Reductions
The elimination of the superfast tag directly impacts ticket pricing by doing away with the mandatory superfast surcharge previously billed to passengers. Once this surcharge is revoked, commuters booking sleeper class accommodations will save up to Rs 30 per ticket. Passengers travelling in third AC, 3E, second AC, and AC chair car coaches will see prices fall by Rs 45. Meanwhile, the steepest cost deduction applies to premium travellers, with tickets in first AC and executive class becoming cheaper by up to Rs 75.
