Train fares on long-distance routes countrywide are set to rise from May 04 due to the withdrawal of discounted ticketing for travelling over 100 kilometres.
The Bangladesh Railway (BR) estimates that the fare increases will boost its yearly income of Tk 3.0 billion.
The BR, which introduced rebates in fares for long-distance and section routes in 1992, announced its plan to withdraw the discounts in a notice ran in a daily on Monday.
Of the rebates, section-based rebates were withdrawn after 20 years in 2012.
But the passengers have been enjoying 20 to 30-per cent rebates for travelling over 100 km to 401 km to date.
They now get 20-per cent rebate for travelling between 101 km and 250 km, 25 per cent for 251 km to 400 km and 30 per cent for over 401 km.
Officials said the rebate withdrawal decision was taken in a meeting before Ramadan and its summary has been approved by the prime minister.
The summary dated February 13 was approved on March 02.
It also allowed the state-backed operator to introduce reservation service charge for each extra coach, which the BR often adds to different trains on demand from different government and non-government organisations.
As per the new plans, 20-per cent service charge has been proposed in the case of 'Shovon' coach and 30 per cent for 'Snighda' and above classes.
BR director general Sardar Shahadat Ali told the FE that the reservation charge would be applicable to those coaches if and when the BR would decide as per demand from different quarters.
Sources said the decision to withdraw the rebates came recently as the state operator has long been trying to increase rail fares amid a yawning loss between operational costs and earnings.
The railway also faced pressure from development partners to reform its tariff policy reviewing train fare chart every year.
Officials, however, said ticket fares on short-distance routes, including commuter trains, were unlikely to rise as distances were below 100 km.
The BR also did not fix train fares on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route without a rebate system since its launch on 02 January 2023.
The discount system on some trains, including Suborna and Sonar Bangla express trains, were not introduced since their opening as those were non-stop trains.
The BR increased 7.23-per cent fares on both goods and passenger train services in 2016.
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