No.AIRF/82 Dated: August 16, 2021

The Chairman & CEO,

Railway Board,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub.Lifting of limitation of berths reservation on Privilege Pass/PTO in Special Trains – Reg.

Ref.:  Railway Board’s letter No.E(W)2016/PS5-1/8 dated 31.01.2019(RBE No.16/2019) 

Vide aforementioned letter of the Railway Board, a number of restrictions were imposed on entitlements on Privilege Pass/PTO, Duty Pass and PRCP. Also, due to change in the nomenclature of Daily Passenger/ Express Trains, as “Special Train”, Railwaymen are put to discomfort and inconveniences.  Permissibility of berths in “Special Train” is on-par with Rajdhani Express Train, i.e. one berth in 2A and two berths in 3A.

Such policy decision, taken in the wake of the Pandemic last year, is still continued, and restrictions imposed on the Railwaymen by denying their privilege, even in Daily Passenger/Express Trains, to reserve berths for their family members, specifically mentioned on Privilege Pass/PTO, is resulting in serious unrest and outcry amongst the staff.  Further, staff are constrained to draw more than required Privilege Passes/ PTOs for single journey, thus shrinking and decreasing future options to travel together.

Above decision was taken due to constricted movement of trains at that time. But, in the current situation, there is a full-fledged movement of the Passenger/Express Trains all over the country.

AIRF is of opinion that, now time has come to normalize Train Reservation Policy for Railwaymen on Privilege Passes/PTOs and reintroduction of earlier Rules as a pragmatic approach towards lifting of imposed limitations.

AIRF, therefore requests your goodself to communicate necessary instructions to concerned authorities for unrestricted reservation of the berths in the Special Trains to mitigate the hardship being faced by the Railwaymen since more than a year.

√Copy to: A.M.(H.R.), Railway Board – For necessary action please.

√Copy to: GSs, All Affiliated Unions – For information.