Indian Railways Increases Passenger Fares: What the New Hike Means for Travellers

Indian Railways Increases Passenger Fares From December 26: How Much More Passengers Will Pay and What Changes

Indian Railways Increases Passenger Fares from today, December 26, 2025, marking the second fare revision in the year after an earlier hike in July. The new fare structure applies to tickets booked on or after this date and affects a wide range of long-distance and premium train services.

The Railway Ministry has described the move as a measured step aimed at balancing passenger affordability with the long-term financial sustainability of railway operations.

Why Indian Railways Has Increased Passenger Fares

Explaining the decision, the ministry said fare rationalisation is necessary to manage rising operational costs while continuing to invest in safety, infrastructure, and service quality. Expenses related to fuel, maintenance, modernisation, and network expansion have increased significantly in recent years.

According to officials, the fare hike has been designed to be gradual and moderate, ensuring that essential travel for daily commuters and short-distance passengers remains unaffected.

Journeys That Will Not See Any Fare Increase

A key reassurance from authorities is that not all passengers will be impacted. There will be no change in fares for suburban services and season tickets, covering both suburban and non-suburban routes.

Additionally, second-class ordinary journeys up to 215 km will remain unchanged, protecting daily commuters and short-distance travellers. This exemption ensures that the most price-sensitive passenger segments are shielded from the increase.

How Much More Will Second-Class Ordinary Passengers Pay?

For second-class ordinary journeys beyond 215 km, the fare increase will be applied in slabs based on distance:

• Journeys between 216 and 750 km will see an increase of ₹5

• Journeys between 751 and 1,250 km will increase by ₹10

• Journeys between 1,251 and 1,750 km will rise by ₹15

• Journeys between 1,751 and 2,250 km will cost ₹20 more

The ministry has emphasized that these increases are modest when spread across long-distance travel.

Sleeper and First-Class Ordinary Fare Changes

For sleeper class ordinary and first-class ordinary passengers on non-suburban routes, fares will be revised at a uniform rate of 1 paisa per kilometre. Officials described this as a gradual adjustment intended to minimise passenger burden while keeping fares aligned with operational costs.

This change applies only to longer journeys and does not affect suburban or short-haul travel.

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Impact on Mail and Express Trains

Passengers travelling on mail and express trains will see a slightly higher increase. Across non-AC and AC classes, fares will rise by 2 paise per kilometre.

This includes sleeper class, first class, AC chair car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC first class. To put this into perspective, a passenger travelling 500 km in a non-AC mail or express train will pay roughly ₹10 extra, according to the ministry.

Trains Covered Under the Fare Hike

The revised fares apply to a wide range of popular and premium services, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Gatimaan, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Garib Rath, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail trains, among others.

This ensures uniformity across categories while avoiding sharp increases for any single class of passengers.

Effective Date and Ticket Booking Rules

The notification clearly states that the revised fares apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26, 2025. Tickets booked before this date will not attract any additional charges, even if the journey takes place after the new fares come into effect.

Passengers who planned travel in advance and booked earlier will therefore not be affected by the hike.

Railways’ Assurance to Passengers

Indian Railways has assured passengers that updated fare charts will be displayed at stations and booking counters. The ministry reiterated its commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable travel while ensuring long-term operational sustainability.

Officials also highlighted that compared to inflation and rising costs, railway fare increases remain among the lowest globally for mass public transport.

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What This Means for Travellers

While the announcement that Indian Railways Increases Passenger Fares may concern some travellers, the overall impact is expected to be limited for most passengers, especially short-distance commuters. The structured and distance-based approach ensures predictability and fairness.

For long-distance and premium travellers, the increase is modest and aimed at supporting service improvements rather than imposing a heavy burden.

As the rail network continues to modernise, the ministry maintains that fare adjustments will remain balanced, transparent, and passenger-focused.

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