From September 11, the Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto Express, which was introduced last year, will make way for the Amritsar-Chandigarh Superfast, which is expected to be financially viable as it will have halts at Ludhiana and Jalandhar.
The decision to rename the train and have additional halts was taken by the union railway ministry on passengers' demand. The Punjab government, too, had taken up the issue with the ministry on public demand.
However, the ministry initially expressed its inability to oblige the state government as the Duronto is a non-stop train, running from origin to destination. For a Duronto to halt at stations on its route, the ministry would have to amend the Act under which these trains were introduced across the country.
So, instead of going though the lengthy process of introducing an amendment in Parliament, the ministry decided to change the train's name from Amritsar-Chandigarh Duronto to Amritsar-Chandigarh Superfast.
The Superfast is expected to get a substantial number of passengers from Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Around 1,000 seats had been going empty (both ways) daily on the Duronto and the estimated per day loss to the railways was around Rs 1.5 lakh.
The fare for the Superfast, both AC and non-AC classes, will be less than for the Duronto. In the case of AC chair car, the fare will be slashed as no breakfast or dinner will be served. The fare list is expected to be made available to the local station authorities in a day or two.
{{/usCountry}}The fare for the Superfast, both AC and non-AC classes, will be less than for the Duronto. In the case of AC chair car, the fare will be slashed as no breakfast or dinner will be served. The fare list is expected to be made available to the local station authorities in a day or two.
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