Discounts up to 25% for some Shatabdi, Tejas trains from September: Railways
New Delhi: The railways on Wednesday said that the scheme offering up to 25 per cent concession on trains with AC chair car and executive class sitting will be implemented from September.
The scheme shall be applicable for AC chair car and executive chair car accommodation like in Shatabdi, Gatimaan, Tejas, Double Decker, Intercity trains among others, the railways said. Only trains with monthly occupancy of less than 50 per cent in the previous year are eligible for the discount, it said.
On Tuesday, PTI had reported that railways had planned the scheme to increase revenue as well as occupancy as it faces stiff competition from roadways and low-cost air fares. The authority to discount these fares is delegated to the principal chief commercial managers of zonal railways, a release from the railway ministry said. The discount to be offered can be up to 25 per cent of the base fare. Reservation fee, superfast charge, GST, as applicable will be separate.
The discount can be given for the first leg and/or the last leg of journey and/or intermediate sections and/or end to end journey. There is a provision to make catering optional with the discounted fare, the release said. The discounted fare can be for the full year, part of the year or month wise or seasonal or for weekdays or weekend.
Accordingly, all zonal railways have been directed by the Commercial Directorate of the Railway Board to review the occupancy of all trains with chair car and executive class seating accommodation by September 30 and take suitable action. This scheme is aimed at improving occupancy and earnings, the release said.
The railways has also said that the existing discounted scheme in three trains - Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express, Ahemdabad-Mumbai Central Shatabdi train and New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Shatabdi Express - shall continue as per the existing discounted principles.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
