LAHORE, Dec 6: The Pakistan Railway notified decrease in the economy class train fare by five per cent from Monday (tomorrow), 26 days after Railway Minister Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour announced there was no such move on the cards.

A senior officer of the Pakistan Railways told this reporter on Saturday that the decision had been taken to pass on the relief to passengers after reduction in petroleum product prices in the international market.

However, the relief will not be applicable to the all-economy class Samjhauta Express that operates between Lahore and Attari, said the officer who wished not to be named.

Railway Minister Haji Bilour had said at his maiden news conference at the PR headquarters on Nov 13 that there would be no decrease in rail fares. “It is not possible yet because of the huge deficit railway is currently facing,” the minister had told a questioner.

In the last week of July, passenger fares were increased from eight to 15 per cent while freight charges by five per cent.

Rail fares of AC sleeper, business and standard classes besides AC parlour went up by 15 per cent while first class sleeper, economy and second classes by five per cent. Freight charges were also increased by eight per cent.

The railway had increased passenger fares by five to 15 per cent and freight charges by five per cent from July 7.

Rail fares of AC sleeper, business and standard classes besides AC parlour were increased by 15 per cent while first class sleeper, economy and second classes by five per cent. Parcel charges were also raised by 10 per cent. The railway had notified increase in passenger fares by 10 per cent and freight charges by 15 per cent from May 9 and May 16, respectively.

Earlier, the passenger fares had been increased in December 2004 by five per cent while in May 2006 fuel adjustment charges were revised by Rs10 for short journey and up to Rs30 for long journey.

The railway had added a fuel adjustment surcharge of up to Rs30 per ticket in its fares from Dec 15, 2005. The commuters travelling up to 50 kilometres were not paying it, those travelling 51 to 100 kms were paying Rs5, those from 101 to 500 Rs15 and a sum of Rs20 by those travelling above 501 kms.

Two week later on Dec 31, the fuel surcharge was further ‘adjusted’ and its ceiling was raised from Rs30 to Rs35 per ticket. The surcharge was being charged at a rate of Rs5 on a journey of 51 to 100 kilometres, from 101 to 150 kms the surcharge was Rs10, from 151 to 300 kms Rs15, from 301 to 600 kms Rs20, from 601 to 1,000 kms Rs30 and Rs35 for a journey above 1,000 kilometres. No surcharge was being charged for a journey up to 50 kilometres.

The surcharge on economy class rail tickets for a journey of 1,250 kilometres and above were reduced from June 11, 2006.

The passengers who purchased ticket for travel up to 1,250 kilometres were getting a five per cent while those buying ticket for more than 1,250 kilometres journey were getting an eight per cent concession in the fuel adjustment surcharge. — Staff Reporter