While the Railway Board has given the go ahead to all 18 zonal railways to operate fully unreserved trains, the Southern Railway said it has not taken any policy decision to run unreserved trains.
The Railway Board had also permitted zonal railways to attach General Class coaches in all mail/express trains. The approval to allow attachment of General Class compartments and unreserved trains were taken at the Board meeting held last month.
A senior official of Southern Railway while confirming the permission granted by the Railway Board to all zonal railways to operate unreserved trains like Antyodaya and Jan Sadharan services said the policy letter has no relevance or link in the present pandemic situation.
The railway official said at present only fully Reserved special trains are being operated with only passengers having confirmed reservations being allowed to travel in the trains. The Railway Board in a letter dated October 21 had allowed to operate unreserved trains and add General Class compartments to mail/express trains.
