Rail fares to increase by 12 percent

Train fares will increase by 12 per cent on an average from May 15 to September 4, 2012, announced Vietnam Railways on May 14.

For instance, the price of a soft bed in an air-conditioned coupe on the North-South train route will go up by 13 per cent while a hard seat without air-conditioning will go up by 15 per cent. Other seats will go up by 12 per cent. Moreover, fare for a soft seat in an air-conditioned carriage on the high quality train SE3/4 will be VND1,200,000 (US$57.6) and will be different for carriages on the rest of the train. 

The lowest price on the Thong Nhat train TN1 will be VND530,000 and the highest VND1,300,000. Standing seat prices, passengers’ premium, luggage shipping rates and free discount tickets for beneficiaries of social policies apply under the current rules. During this time, the company will not discount for collective tickets. 

Moreover, it will not conduct deduction for returning tickets or changing tickets which are around 20 per cent. The Railways announced reduction in prices for beneficiaries of social policies as follows: people about sixty years of age will enjoy a 20 per cent discount; hero mothers will get a 90 per cent reduction while wounded soldiers and disadvantaged students from special schools will be offered 10 per cent reduction. 

Children less than five years of age with height under 1.05 metres will enjoy exemption of fares while children from five to 10 years of age will get a 50 per cent discount. 

By Quoc Hung – Translated by Uyen Phuong

Source SGGP