Salient features of Alternate
Train Accommodation Scheme “VIKALP” to waitlisted passengers: Railway
Commercial Circular No. 61
ALTERNATE TRAIN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME - “VIKALP”
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
GENERAL
·
The Alternate Train
Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) is presently being launched under the name “Vikalp”
on pilot basis only for the tickets booked through internet on two sectors
i.e. Delhi-Jammu and Delhi-Lucknow sectors. Based on the feedback it will be
provided on PRS and also on other sectors.
·
The scheme is
presently being implemented only across Mail/Express trains of same
category. No extra charges shall be taken from passenger or any refund
shall be provided for difference of fare.
·
The scheme is
applicable to all waiting list passengers irrespective of booking quota
and concession. In pilot phase the scheme will be available on few
pre-designated trains in the above sectors only.
·
Under this scheme,
Waiting list passengers will give choice to opt for ATAS scheme.
·
ATAS opted passengers
who remain fully Waitlisted after charting will only be considered for
allotment in the alternate train.
·
Fully WL passengers
opted for ATAS should check PNR status after charting.
·
Either all passengers
of a PNR or none will be transferred to alternate train in same class. The
passenger can be considered for shifting to a train leaving from any
station amongst the cluster of stations defined by Railways based on the convenience
of the passengers to a station serving the destination station on the same
analogy.
·
The ATAS opted
passengers who have been provided accommodation in the alternate train
will not figure in the waitlisted charts of their original train. A
separate list of passengers transferred in alternate train will be pasted
along with the CONFIRMED and WAITLIST charts.
·
The passenger allotted
alternate accommodation can travel in the alternate train on authority of
original ticket.
·
Waitlisted passengers
of original train shall not be allowed to board the original train if
allotted alternate accommodation. If found travelling, they will be
treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.
·
Passengers once
provided alternate accommodation in alternate train will be treated as
normal passengers in alternate train and will be eligible for up
gradation.
·
In rare situations,
passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation might get
dropped/re-allotted in alternate train due to last minute change in
composition of the alternate train at the time of chart preparation. So,
passengers who have been provided alternate accommodation should check PNR
status also after preparation of charts of the alternate train for final
status.
·
This information will
be available on Call Centre (139), PRS Enquiry Counters, Passenger
Operated Enquiry Terminals installed at stations and WEB ENQUIRY onwwwindianrail.gov.in.
·
When an ATAS opted
passenger opts to cancel,after he/she has been given an alternate
accommodation, he/ she will be treated as a CONFIRNIED passenger and the
cancellation rules will apply accordingly.
·
No refund for
difference of fare between the original train and the alternate train,
including Tatkal charges, if any, will be given to re-allocated passengers.
·
Once an ATAS passenger
has been allotted alternate accommodation, journey modification will not
be permitted. If required, the passenger will have to cancel the ticket
and book a fresh ticket for modified journey.
·
When a passenger who
has been allotted alternate accommodation has not performed his journey in
the alternate train, he can claim for refunds by filing a TDR request.
IMPORTANT PASSENGER INFORMATION:-
PLEASE NOTE
1) Opting for VIKALP does not mean that confirmed berth will be provided to passengers in alternate train. It is subject to train and berth availability.
2) Once confirmed in Alternate train, Cancellation charges will be as per your berth/train status in alternate train.
3) In this scheme, your boarding and terminating station might change to nearby cluster stations.
4) You can be transferred to any alternate train available within 12 hrs. from the scheduled departure of original train, in which you have booked.
5) Please check PNR status after charting.
1) Opting for VIKALP does not mean that confirmed berth will be provided to passengers in alternate train. It is subject to train and berth availability.
2) Once confirmed in Alternate train, Cancellation charges will be as per your berth/train status in alternate train.
3) In this scheme, your boarding and terminating station might change to nearby cluster stations.
4) You can be transferred to any alternate train available within 12 hrs. from the scheduled departure of original train, in which you have booked.
5) Please check PNR status after charting.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DBA:
1. H/20 switch needs to be set along With ATAS effective date
range to define trains under ATAS scheme, so that option for alternate
accommodation will be taken from waitlisted passengers booked in the train.
NOTE: It is suggested that the scheme be launched
with effect from ARP opening date or no-booking date of main train otherwise it
will lead to breach of priority for waitlisted passengers booked in same TDRC
prior to launch.
2. For grouping of trains under ATAS scheme, a feature is
provided in GUIDBA. Using this option Database operator can define set of main
trains with every alternate train to which WL passengers will be transferred.
E.g. Alternate train S is mapped to main trains M1, M2,. M3; then waitlist
passengers of M1, M2 and M3 will be transferred to vacant berths in train S.
Flexibility to indicate scheme start date and end date with special/alternate
train is also provided. While defining these pairs, following restrictions are
imposed by the system:
a) Train type of main train as well as alternate train
should be same.
b) Train source station of main train and alternate train
can be from cluster of principle stations.
c) Destination station or principle station of alternate
train should be .present as a valid ISL in main train.
d) The scheduled departure of the alternate train is at
least 1/2 hour and maximum 24 hours after the scheduled departure of original
train.
NOTE: In case the scheme
is to be applied on all trains of a sector to balance load across different
trains in the sector, then multiple pairs should be defined by DBA. For
example: If there are 4 trains in a sector say A, B, C and D and it is desired
that waitlist in any of these 4 trains if present should be transferred
to vacant berth in any of these 4 trains if available i.e. every train is a
main train as well as alternate train based on availability status at the time
of charting. Then database will have to define 4 pairs of ATAS group, one for
each train as alternate trains and other three trains as main train i.e. B, C
and D will be main train for A; A, C and D will be main train for Band so on.
Also it will be required to set ATAS flag (H/20) on all these 4 trains so that
ATAS option from Waitlist passengers is taken in all 4 trains.
3. In alternate/ special train, database operator can mark
the train as reserved for ATAS in a given period i.e. only ATAS opted waitlist
passengers will be transferred to this train and no normal booking will be
allowed in the train.
4. In alternate/ special train, database operator can also
mark a particular coach as reserved for ATAS in a given period i.e. ATAS opted
waitlist passengers will be transferred to this coach first and no normal
booking will be allowed in this coach. Coaches blocked for ATAS in alternate
trains will have only GN quota defined in it.
5. Resetting of chart switch will not be permitted in main
trains which are marked under ATAS Scheme i.e. once charts are prepared for the
main train it could not be reverted back in any scenario.
Railway Board's Circular:
GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA
MINISTRY
OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY
BOARD)
No. 2007/11 G-I/ZO/P/ATAS
New
Delhi, dated 14.10.2015
The Chief Commercial Manager, CMDHRCTC, MDICRIS, Chanakyapuri,
Northern Railway, New Delhi New Delhi. New Delhi
Commercial Circular No. 61 of 2015
Sub: Introduction of Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme
“VIKALP”.
With a View to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted
passengers and also to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, a
scheme called “VIKALP” has been conceptualised and is being introduced w.e.f.
01.11.2015 initially only for the tickets booked through internet as a pilot
project for six months, on Delhi Lucknow & Delhi-Jammu sectors of Northern
Railway. In this scheme, wait listed passengers. of a train can opt for
confirmed accommodation in alternate trains. The salient features of this
scheme are enclosed.
2. It is requested that a wide publicity may be given to the features of this scheme for information of general public.
DA: As above
(Vikram
Singh)
Director
Passenger Marketing
Railway
Board
Source: http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic_comm/Comm-Cir-2015/CC_61_2015.pdf
