- December 26, 2025
Indian Railways Increases Passenger Fares From Today: How Much More Will Passengers Pay?
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Indian Railways on Thursday announced a hike in passenger fares, which will come into effect from Friday, December 26; Check fare changes
Indian Railways
Indian Railways Fare Hike: Indian Railways on Thursday announced a hike in passenger fares, which will come into effect from Friday, December 26, marking the second fare revision this year after an earlier increase in July.
Under the revised fare structure, ticket prices will increase by 1 paise per km for ordinary class journeys beyond 215 km, and by 2 paise per km for non-AC classes of mail and express trains as well as AC classes across all trains, the Railway Ministry said.
Why fares are being increased?
Explaining the move, the railway ministry said on December 21 that the fare rationalisation aims to strike a balance between passenger affordability and the sustainability of railway operations.
There will be no change in fares for suburban services and season tickets, covering both suburban and non-suburban routes. In addition, there will be no fare hike for second-class ordinary journeys up to 215 km, ensuring that short-distance travellers and daily commuters are not affected, the ministry said.
How much more will second-class passengers pay?
For second-class ordinary journeys beyond 215 km, fares will increase in slabs: Rs 5 for distances between 216 and 750 km, Rs 10 for 751 to 1,250 km, Rs 15 for 1,251 to 1,750 km, and Rs 20 for journeys between 1,751 and 2,250 km.
Sleeper and first class (ordinary) fares
Fares for sleeper class ordinary and first class ordinary will be revised uniformly at 1 paise per km for non-suburban journeys, which the ministry described as a gradual and moderate increase.
Impact on mail and express trains
For mail and express services, fares across both non-AC and AC classes—including sleeper, first class, AC chair car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and AC first class—will rise by 2 paise per km. As an illustration, the ministry said passengers travelling 500 km in non-AC mail or express coaches will pay only about Rs 10 extra.
Trains covered under the hike
The revised fares will apply to a wide range of 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.
Effective date for new fares
The notification clarified that the revised fares will 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 force.
Railways’ assurance
Indian Railways said fare charts at stations will be updated accordingly and reiterated its commitment to providing safe, reliable and affordable travel while ensuring long-term operational sustainability.
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December 26, 2025, 07:37 IST
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