New online ticket purchasing system for trains from next month : Min. Ranatunga

The Railways Department has decided to introduce an online ticket booking system which is expected to come into effect from next month onwards, Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga told Times Online.

This system has been introduced in order to prevent tickets being sold at a higher rate by agents in the tourism industry to foreigners. Minister Ranatunga observed that agents purchase a bulk of tickets and sell it for a higher price to foreign tourists afterwards.

However, with the implementation of this new online system foreigners will be able to book their tickets directly thereby curbing the fradulent transactions involved in the purchase of tickets. Locals too could purchase their tickets by booking them online.

Meanwhile, both tourists and locals who wish to purchase their tickets over the counter will be able to purchase only one ticket per passenger, the Transport Minister said. Accordingly, passengers must physically identify themselves before ticket counters in order to purchase their tickets.

The system of issuing railway warrants for pensioners will however remain unchanged, Mr. Ranatunga said.

(Reporting by Damith Wickramasekara)