Train 18 passengers cannot 'opt out' meals: How much Vande Bharat Express passengers will have to pay extra
Meals on board the soon-to-be-launched Vande Bharat Express or Train 18 will not be optional for passengers unlike in premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto express, where travellers can choose not to take catering services, officials said. However, passengers travelling the last leg on the route of the semi-high speed train -- Allahabad to Varanasi -- will have the choice of opting out of the meals provided by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), in advance while booking their tickets, the sources told PTI. Image Source:PTI
Fixed catering charges in Train18
This also reduced the cost of the tickets on these trains by around Rs 250. Talking about Train 18, an official said, "The catering charges between the stations have been fixed and they will be added to the ticket fare of all passengers. "However, passengers boarding the train to travel the final or first leg of the journey from Varanasi to Allahabad or Allahabad to Varanasi may opt out of the catering services. They will have to opt out at the time of booking." A separate receipt shall be issued to such passengers by the IRCTC," the source said. The train which has two classes of tickets -- executive class and chair car -- will have differently priced meals, the source said. Image Source: PTI
Meal Charges In train 18
While passengers travelling from New Delhi to Varanasi in the executive class will be charged Rs 399 for morning tea, breakfast and lunch, travellers in the chair car will need to pay Rs 344 for the same. Those travelling from New Delhi to Kanpur and Prayagraj will have to pay Rs 155 and Rs 122 for executive class and chair car, respectively.Image Source: PTI
Charges high from the Premium trains
From Varanasi to New Delhi, the passengers will be charged Rs 349 and Rs 288 in the executive class and chair, respectively. They will be served evening tea with snacks and dinner. The tickets in Train 18 or the Vande Bharat Express, which will eventually replace Shatabdi trains, will be priced higher than the fares of the premium train. Image Source: Zee business
Train 18 time and Distance
The train will cover the 755-km distance in eight hours with stoppages at Kanpur and Prayagraj. It will be the fastest train on the route. The current fastest train takes around 11-and-a-half-hours to complete the journey. Image Source:PTI