Indian Railways Hikes Passenger Train Fares from December 26, 2025

The Railway Ministry on Thursday officially notified a hike in passenger train fares, effective from Friday, December 26, 2025. This is the second fare revision in 2025, following an earlier increase in July. 

Ordinary class passengers traveling beyond 215 km will see fares rise by 1 paise per kilometre, while non-AC mail and express classes and all AC classes will increase by 2 paise per kilometre.

No Change for Suburban Services

Suburban services and season tickets, including both suburban and non-suburban routes, remain unaffected. The fare rationalisation aims to balance passenger affordability with the operational sustainability of Indian Railways.

Fares for Ordinary Non-AC Classes

For second class ordinary non-suburban journeys, the fare increases are structured as follows:

• Up to 215 km – no increase
• 216 km to 750 km – ₹5 increase
• 751 km to 1,250 km – ₹10 increase
• 1,251 km to 1,750 km – ₹15 increase
• 1,751 km to 2,250 km – ₹20 increase

This tiered structure ensures short-distance travellers and daily commuters are minimally impacted.

Mail and Express Train Fares

Fares for sleeper class ordinary and first class ordinary have been increased uniformly at 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys. For mail and express trains, both non-AC and AC classes, including sleeper, first class, AC chair car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC first class, have seen a 2 paise per kilometre increase. For example, a 500 km journey in a non-AC mail or express train will cost around ₹10 extra.

Trains Affected and Booking Details

The fare revision applies to major services such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Mahamana, Yuva Express, and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, as well as ordinary non-suburban services. 

AC MEMU and DEMU services are excluded where applicable. The new fares apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26, 2025; tickets booked earlier will not incur additional charges. Updated fare charts will be displayed at railway stations.

Also Read: Indian Railways Launches QR-Enabled Complaint System for Catering Services in Chennai!

Conclusion

The Railway Ministry reiterated its commitment to offering safe, reliable, and affordable travel, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of operations, balancing passenger needs with operational efficiency.

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