Indian Railways Hikes Passenger Fares Again : Here’s What Changes

Outlook Business Desk

Railways Hike Fare

Indian Railways has raised passenger fares once again in the 2025–26 financial year, following an increase in July. The revised ticket prices, effective from today, raise travel costs marginally for several categories.

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Mail Express Rates

Under the new fare structure, ordinary non-AC classes now cost one paise more per kilometre, while Mail and Express trains across AC and non-AC categories see a two paise hike.

Commuters Unaffected

Suburban train services and monthly or seasonal passes, whether suburban or non-suburban, have been kept out of the revision, ensuring daily commuters and short-distance travellers are not impacted.

Second Class Impact

For second-class ordinary passengers, fares remain unchanged for journeys up to 215 km. Longer distances now attract graded increases, making the hike more noticeable on extended routes.

Based Slabs

Second-class travellers pay ₹5 more for 216–750 km journeys, ₹10 extra for 751–1,250 km, ₹15 more for 1,251–1,750 km and ₹20 more beyond 1,751 km.

Trains Covered List

The revised fares apply to Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Antyodaya and other major non-suburban train services nationwide.

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Services Excluded

The fare revision will not apply to select AC MEMU and DEMU services, ensuring that certain short-haul travel options remain unaffected.

Revenue Rationale

The fare revision is expected to add about ₹600 crore to railway revenues in the current financial year, with annual gains estimated at nearly ₹2,400 crore at present passenger volumes.

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