Source: CC (Commercial Circular) No. 162 of 2022 (Transportation Product – Block Rake / Mini Rake / Two Point Combination etc.).
• Effective Date: 01 July 2022
• Validity: Up to 30 June 2023 (for supplementary charge provisions)
• Restrictions: Mini Rake / Two‑Point / piecemeal traffic is not permitted from specified congested goods sheds.
End
JPP-RCS
Features:
Stands for Joint Parcel Product-Rapid cargo Service
Partnership: Indian Railways and India Post
Object: Seamless, door-to-door logistics solutions for consignments.
Integrated Service: India Post handles first-mile pickup and last-mile delivery, while Indian Railways manages the main transit between stations.
VAP - Virtual Aggregation Platform - An online platform developed by Indian Railways to facilitate load aggregation from multiple customers, allowing for efficient booking and tracking of consignments.
Time-Tabled Services: Operates on scheduled parcel trains, ensuring timely and reliable delivery of goods. (like Passenger trains)
Affordable Tariffs - India Post charging Rs.6 per KG for combined pickup and delivery within municipal limits
Insurance coverage by third part - at 0.03% of Consignment value plus GST
SPOC - Single Point Of Contact: India Post act as SPC throughout the process - to interact
Leveraging the extensive network of both IR & India Post
First ever JPP-RCS Service - Features
From Budgam(J&K) to Adarsh Nagar (New Delhi)
Pilot Project for 1 Year
Approved by Railway Board (on 20th August, 2025)
By Jammu Division of Northern Railway.
Operated Daily
Transit time: Estimated to take approximately 23 hours, which is notably faster than the conventional road transport between Budgam and Delhi
Consists of 8 Parcel Vans (VPs) and 1 Seating cum Luggage Rake (SLR)
To streamline operations, loading and unloading facilities will be provided at Bari Brahmana (BBMN) station in addition to Budgam and Adarsh Nagar
Benefits:
Cost-effective, efficient, and reliable alternative for transporting goods
Boosting Railways’ share in the courier & freight logistics.
Benefit Kashmiri producers and traders, particularly those dealing in dry fruits, handicrafts, saffron, apples, walnuts, Pashmina shawls, and carpets
Key Points for MCQ:
JPP-RCS - Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service
VAP - Virtual Aggregation Platform
SPOC - Single Point Of Contact
Partners: IR & India Post
First ever service: Budgam(J&K) to Adarsh Nagar (New Delhi)
Pilot Project: 1 year (Assessment at 6 Months)
NTR stands for Normal Tariff Rate (in Traffic)
NTR refers to the total charges for transport of a commodity inclusive of:
The Base Freight Rate as published in the goods tariff
Plus Demand Management Charges like busy season surcharges.
Plus Congestion Charge (if any)
Plus supplementary charges as applicable on various transportation products.
YTSK - Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra
Private ticket booking counters authorized by Indian Railways to issue reserved and unreserved tickets through the PRS (Passenger Reservation System).
Purpose: To expand ticketing facilities through authorized private agents beyond railway premises.
Operated by: Registered individuals/firms/companies approved by zonal railways.
Tenure: 3 years (renewable)
Maximum Terminals per Licensee: 4 (can be increased based on need)
Working Hours: Generally 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Ticket Rolls: Supplied free by Railways (distinct color)
Counter Setup: Must be outside railway premises
Training: Mandatory for operators
YTSKs provide PRS (reserved) and UTS (unreserved) ticketing outside station premises, reducing crowding and queue pressure at railway counters. Ideal for passengers who are not internet-savvy or want to avoid station congestion.
Serves localities and urban/rural areas away from stations, making ticketing more accessible and widespread
Helps decongest PRS counters, especially in peak periods, while complementing IRCTC website bookings (which already account for 70%+ of reservations)
Operated under strict licensing and monitoring to prevent misuse—Railways can disable terminals immediately if malpractices occur
🎟️ Inclusive Access: Serves passengers without internet access or those unfamiliar with online booking.
💼 Public–Private Model: Enables more centers via PPP, increasing availability of booking counters even beyond station premises.
💰 Higher Charges: YTSKs levy service charges (₹30 for Sleeper/2S, ₹40 for AC), which are higher than standard PRS counters
🎯 Tatkal Disadvantage: Tatkal bookings open later than railway counters or IRCTC, leading to disadvantage during high-demand periods
💸 High Entry Barriers: Aspiring licensees must meet financial commitments—₹1.6 L system access per terminal, ₹2–5 L deposit, and ₹2–5 L registration fee depending on circulars and modifications.
🧾 Limitations on Service: Cannot issue concession tickets (except for senior citizens), no block booking, and limited cancellation ability (I
🚆 Final Word
YTSKs have helped decongest station counters, extended ticket booking hours, and brought railway ticketing closer to communities. They serve as a reliable option for users outside major stations, especially those uncomfortable with online booking. However, they come with higher charges, operational conditions, and limitations compared to direct PRS or IRCTC booking methods.
Key Points Summary:
YTSK stands for Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra
Registration Fees : Rs. 2 Lakhs (One Time, Non Refundable)
System Access Charges Rs. 1.6 Lakhs per Terminal per Annum
Security Deposit: Rs. 1 Lakh per Terminal (up to Rs. Lakh maximum)
Revenue sharing: 25% of Service charge to YTSK
Service Charges Rs. 30 per Ticket (Non AC), Rs. 40 Per Ticket (AC)
Tenure: 3 Years
Working hours: 8 AM to 10 PM
End
Fly Ash / Bed Ash Loading
The Railway Board has introduced a revised Freight Incentive Scheme specifically targeting the loading of Fly Ash and Bed Ash.
Authority: CC No. 09 & 95 of 2020 and CC No. 219 of 2024
The core objective of this scheme is to encourage additional loading of Fly Ash and Bed Ash and to enhance the utilization of rolling stock by offering targeted freight incentives.
The 40% discount is applicable only when the entire rake is released, unloaded, emptied, and then back loaded at the same terminal.
If empty rakes are supplied from other terminals, the discount is limited to 20% only.
There will be no floor rate for concessions under this scheme. The applicable chargeable freight will reflect the full discount of 40% or 20% on the NTR of the respective class.
The scheme is applicable to all terminals, ensuring wide coverage and implementation flexibility.
The following can be availed simultaneously:
- Freight concessions for traffic moving to/from the North East Region.
- In case of traffic booked in the TEFD (Traditional Empty Flow Directions) stream, the lower of the two NTRs will be charged.
There will be no restriction on the lead distance, giving flexibility to shippers.
Customers need not apply separately to avail these concessions. The benefit will be automatically granted via TMS (Terminal Management System), depending on the features of the scheme.
Key points for MCQ - Loading of Fly Ash / Bed Ash:
In Open Wagons - 40% discount on NTR - Packing condition is bulk or loose or bagged
In Flat Wagons - 40% discount on NTR - Packing condition is Bagged only
In covered Wagons - charged at class NTR of LR 1 - Packing condition is Bagged only
NTR stands for Normal Tariff Rate
Applicable for all terminals
Discount is limited to 20%, if empty rakes are supplied from other terminals
No lead restriction
Concurrent concession available for freight to and from for North East region
In case of TEFD, the lower of two NTRs will be charged
TEFD stands for Traditional Empty Flow Direction
TMS stands for Terminal Management System
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