200 AC and Non AC trains set to operate from June 1 onwards, IRCTC ticket bookings to resume on May 21

NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways will run both air-conditioned and non-air conditioned passenger trains June 1 onwards, and booking for 200 such trains will begin May 21 onwards, the railway ministry said in a statement on Wednesday night.
Of the 100 pairs of trains, 73 are mail or express trains, five are Duronto Express trains having non-AC coaches, while the remaining are Jan Shatabdi trains. Passengers will be able to reserve seats on both onward and return journeys of these 100 trains.

Bookings for these trains will commence at 10 am May 21 onwards, with an advanced reservation period of 30 days.

Passengers will be required to reach the railway station 90 minutes before the scheduled departure of the train, and the use of face mask and Aarogya Setu app will be mandatory.

"All passengers “must”” download and use the Aarogya Setu app," the ministry said in the statement.

These special services shall be in addition to the existing Shramik special trains being run since 01st May and 30 Special AC trains being run since 12th May 2020, the ministry said.

Only online ticketing will be done through IRCTC website or mobile app, and no tickets will be booked across the reservation counter on any railway station, while booking of tickets through agents will also not be permitted.

The fare shall be as normal as generally charged for such trains. All other regular trains, including suburban services, will remain cancelled.

Catering charges will not be included in the fare of these trains, while provision for pre-paid meal booking and e-catering will be disabled. All stalls at stations will be open but only take away food will be given, the ministry said.