Duronto trains lose charm, to run as regular superfast express

The non-stop feature of Duronto trains appears to be losing sheen on some routes as there is a poor response from travellers, prompting railways to convert five such trains into regular superfast express.

The point-to-point Duronto trains will now have more stoppages and passengers can pay according to the destinations they travel to.

Duronto trains which have been converted into superfast are ply between Chennai-Amritsar, Howrah-Puri, Coimbatore-Chennai, Chennai-Trivandrum and Ajmer-Nizamuddin with stops enroute, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

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The non-stop Duronto trains were launched with much fanfare by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2009 and currently there are 32 Duronto trains operational.

While some Duronto trains are faring very well with cent percent occupancy rate, not all are doing so. Some have even less than 50 per cent occupancy rate, said the official.

The operational halts of Duroto trains have been made commercial stoppages for the five Duronto trains as there was a demand for it, he said adding "it has been done to increase the scope of earning."

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As far as fare is concerned, Duronto ticket rates and facilities like catering and comfort are on par with Rajdhani services.

Duronto fares which was less than Rajdhani were recently increased.

However, the official said the facilities like catering services are not being withdrawn and with no change in the fare structure.