PM Modi flags off four trains in Kerala: New refund, ticketing rules

PM Modi, who is visiting Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram today, flagged off four new trains. The three non-AC Amrit Bharat Express trains and the MEMU train launched today are expected to improve connectivity between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The Amrit Bharat trains - Thiruvananthapuram Central–Tambaram, Thiruvananthapuram North–Charlapalli, and Nagercoil Junction–Mangaluru Junction - are launched to offer greater comfort at economical fares. The Guruvayur-Thrissur MEMU train is a daily service, while the Amrit Bharat trains will initially be weekly services. 

The new Amrit Bharat trains
Mangaluru Junction-Nagercoil (16330 ): Will leave Mangaluru at 8 am to reach Nagercoil at 10.05 pm on Wednesdays
Nagercoil-Mangaluru Junction(16329): Will leave Nagercoil at 11.40 am on Tuesdays to reach Mangaluru at 5 am on Wednesdays

Tambaram-Thiruvananthapuram Central(16121): Will leave Tambaram at 5 pm on Wednesdays and reach TVM Central at 8 am on Thursdays
Thiruvananthapuram Central-Tambaram (16122): Will leave Thiruvananthapuram Central at 10.40 am on Thursdays and reach Tambaram at 11.45 pm the same day.

Thiruvananthapuram North-Charlapalli(17042): Will leave Thiruvananthapuram at 5.30 pm on Wednesdays and reach Charlapalli at 11.30 pm on Thursdays
Charlapalli-Thiruvananthapuram North(17041 ): Will leave Charlapalli at 7.15 am on Tuesdays and reach Thiruvananthapuram North at 2.45 pm on Wednesdays.

The MEMU service
The Thrissur-Guruvayur MEMU(56115/56116) will leave Guruvayur at 6.10 pm and reach Thrissur at 6.50 pm. In the return direction, it will leave Thrissur at 8.10 pm and reach Guruvayur at 8.45 pm. 

'Amrit Bharat II' trains
A few days ago, the Indian Railways said that all new Amrit Bharat trains introduced from January this year are classified as 'Amrit Bharat II.' They will have the same rules as Vande Bharat Sleeper Express trains for reservation and ticketing. The trains will have a minimum chargeable distance of 200 km for the sleeper class and 50 km for the second class. They also have strict refund and cancellation policies. Their cancellation charges are 25% of the fare if confirmed seats are cancelled more than 72 hours in advance. Between 72 to 8 hours, the cancellation charge would be 50% of the fare. If cancelled less than eight hours before the scheduled departure of the train, no refund would be granted.