Train Ticket Prices Go Up From Today, Know The Additional Cost

Indian Railways has implemented a marginal fare increase for passenger train services starting 26 December 2025, affecting long-distance and premium travel while keeping essential commuting affordable. The fare revision is described by the railway ministry as a rationalisation measure, intended to balance operational costs with passenger affordability. Short-distance travellers and suburban commuters have been largely exempted, ensuring that daily travel remains economical.

What The Fare Hike Means For Passengers

Under the new structure, ordinary non-AC journeys beyond 215 km will see a nominal increase of 1 paise per kilometre. Mail and Express services, including both non-AC and AC coaches, will experience a slightly higher increase of 2 paise per kilometre. For instance, a 500 km non-AC Mail or Express journey will now cost approximately ₹10 more than before. AC classes, including AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and First AC, will also follow the 2 paise per kilometre hike.

The gradual increase ensures that longer journeys are only modestly affected while maintaining affordability for most passengers. Daily commuters, office-goers, and students will see no change in fares for short-distance travel, suburban trains, or Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs).

Slab-Wise Impact On Ordinary Second-Class Travel

To provide transparency, Indian Railways has outlined the fare revision in a slab-wise manner for ordinary second-class passengers:

Distance Travelled	Fare Increase (₹)
0–215 km	0
216–750 km	5
751–1,250 km	10
1,251–1,750 km	15
1,751–2,250 km	20

This tiered approach ensures that the fare hike is equitable, only affecting longer-distance travellers while protecting short-distance and suburban passengers.

Applicability And Booking Guidelines

The revised fares are applicable only for tickets booked on or after 26 December 2025. Passengers who booked tickets prior to this date will not be charged the increased fares, even if their journey is scheduled for a later date. Major train services including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, and ordinary non-suburban services will follow the revised rates, with AC MEMU and DEMU trains being exceptions where applicable.

Indian Railways emphasises that reservation fees, superfast charges, and GST rules remain unchanged. The fare revision represents a careful balance between meeting rising operational costs and ensuring passenger convenience and affordability.

Passenger Assurance And Convenience

With this rationalisation, the railway ministry aims to sustain operational efficiency while providing safe, reliable, and affordable travel for millions across India. Passengers are encouraged to plan their travel accordingly, noting that short-distance journeys and commuter tickets remain unaffected.