Online booking for special trains from June 1 begins today

New Delhi : Indian Railways will start taking booking for special trains, which will start from June 1, as announced earlier. 200 new passenger trains, including non-AC coaches, will be put on tracks.

People can book tickets online up to two hours before departure, and can also buy tickets only 30 days maximum in advance. They must reach the train station 90 minutes before departure, the railways said.

The Railways announced that RAC and waitlist tickets will be issued but people would be able to board the train only after their seats are confirmed.

Food stalls will be opened at all the stations but only takeaway facility will be available.

These 200 passenger trains are in addition to special "Shramik" trains being run since May 1 to take migrants home and special AC trains - 30 of them - being run since May 12, the railways said.

The decision to run these special trains had come a day after the Central government had announced the extension of lockdown in India.

Passengers will be screened for COVID-19 infection before boarding and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel. Symptomatic passengers will get full refund of their tickets.

Everyone should wear mask and must have the Aarogya Setu application installed in their phones. There are concessions for differently abled and 11 other categories, the railways said. No linen, blankets and curtains will be given in the trains.