Unreserved train tickets is meant only for the suburban train servicesThe Ministry of Railways has clarified that there is no change in the policy to run all express train services including festival special trains and clone special train services as fully reserved train only as yet.

According to a recent statement issued by the Railway Ministry, the existing mail express special trains including festival or holiday special trains, clone special trains that are currently operating on fully reserved basis for passengers will continue till further advice as fully reserved train services only, by issuing reserved tickets for the second class coaches and the passenger portion of seating-cum-luggage rake (SLRs).Additionally, the Railway Ministry added that the permission given to various zones of Indian Railways to issue unreserved train tickets is meant only for the suburban train services and a limited number of local passenger train services operating on few zones.

It further stated that the running of trains, norms of travel, and the reservation rules are constantly changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic regulations. Various railway zones across the national transporter's network are operating the suburban local train services as per certain region-specific rules.

The Southern Railway zone recently announced that all women passengers are allowed to travel in the Chennai Suburban trains without any time restrictions on all the days of the week, starting from December 14, 2020 (Monday).

Similarly, children, up to the age of 12 years, accompanying the women passengers would also be permitted to travel.

This move is likely to benefit all women passengers in the zone as they would be able to travel in the suburban services throughout the day. With this, the travel time for women passengers restricting to only non-peak hours stands withdrawn in the Chennai suburban rail system.