I have read an official say in an interview some time back. That passengers need to fill up 120-130% to recoup the operational cost. But passengers are at a loss because many who travel in them don't buy tickets and TTEs too never check.
-
Regarding this train - in UR its chockablock full. My family in mid-90s used to travel in this train to TPTY. To get a seat we used to go to Kengeri itself, so that we get seats of those coming from MYS sides, when they get down at...
more... SBC. It worked a couple of times but eventually many started doing this. Its being done now also by many who want to travel by Basava, Hampi, GG.
-
My calculation:
In a passenger train in one bogie - some 100-150 people squeeze in right? And they all don't travel the whole distance or long distance like say KK. So constant boarding and de-boarding of passengers in a fully crowded train earns IR good money.