Pongal special trains costlier than flights

If you still intend to take a special train for want of seats, be prepared to pay through your nose as tickets in these trains cost at least twice the normal fare and threefold in some cases. 

In fact, economy class flight tickets are cheaper compared to AC -III and A-II tier tickets in the special trains. For instance, an economy class air ticket from Chennai to Coimbatore on January 12 cost only Rs 2,600 (Rs 1,000 less than the AC-III ticket in the special fare train operated by SR on the same day). 

An idea introduced by Indian Railways a few years ago, festival special trains have become real money spinners with travellers paying twice and thrice the normal fare without availing of any value addition. 

Worse, the special trains would mostly be run using spare rakes, condition of which would be worse than the regular rakes (a full train set) of scheduled trains. 

Also, the special trains are unscheduled and hence they would always run behind the regular trains, which would be accorded top priority even on festival days.