New Delhi : To improve the occupancy of higher classes in trains, a scheme of freqent travellers (SOFT) is being launched that would be applicable yo first AC, second AC,and AC chaircar classes ,minister of state for railways R Velu infomed the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
   

                A freqent traveller will get a complimentary train trip after a certain number of reward points is accumulated,he said in written reply.The scheme will be managed by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation(IRCTC).                                                              

               To another question whether the Indian Railways proposes to launch more luxury trains like "Palace On Wheels", Velu said an MoU has been executed between the railways and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation for introducing a luxury tourist train in the state. However, he said, there was no other proposal forn launching such trains in other states.
               He said there are about 20,000 vacancies in group "D" in safety category of railways, and added that no time-frame could be fixed as when they were likely to be filled, Velu said.