Indian Railways Revises Fares From Today: How Much Your Ticket Costs Now

Passengers planning long-distance train journeys will now have to spend slightly more, as a new fare revision by Indian Railways came into effect on Friday.

The hike marks the second increase in ticket prices in the past six months and applies only to select categories of travel.

According to the Railways, the revised pricing has been introduced to address operational requirements while attempting to limit the burden on passengers.

Why the Railways Increased Ticket Prices

The Ministry of Railways said the decision was taken "with the objective of balancing affordability for passengers and sustainability of operations".

Officials clarified that daily commuters will not be affected, as there is no change in fares for suburban train services or season tickets, whether suburban or non-suburban.

The revised rates apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26. Passengers who booked their tickets before this date will not be charged the higher fare, even if their journey takes place after the revision comes into force.

Distance-Wise Fare Increase Across Classes

Under the updated structure, fare increases vary depending on the distance travelled and the class of coach.

For Second Class Ordinary passengers:

• Journeys up to 215 km will see no increase
• 216 to 750 km will cost Rs 5 more
• 751 to 1,250 km will see a Rs 10 increase
• 1,251 to 1,750 km will cost Rs 15 extra
• 1,751 to 2,250 km will see a Rs 20 hike

In Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary, fares have been raised by 1 paisa per kilometre.

Mail and Express trains have seen a broader revision, with fares increased by 2 paise per kilometre across both non-AC and AC categories. This applies to Sleeper Class, First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier and AC First Class. For instance, a 500 km journey in a non-AC Mail or Express coach will now cost roughly Rs 10 more.

Premium and Semi-Premium Trains Covered

The revised fares also apply to several major train services, including Tejas Rajdhani, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail.

What Remains Unchanged

The Railways confirmed that there is no change in reservation charges, superfast surcharges or other additional fees, which will continue as per existing rules. GST rates also remain unchanged, and fares will continue to be rounded off according to prevailing norms.

"The revised fare structure reflects a balanced approach that safeguards passenger convenience while maintaining operational sustainability," the ministry said.