India's Railway Ministry Implements Fare Hikes: Prices Rise on December 26
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The Indian Railway Ministry has enforced a fare hike for train tickets, effective December 26. The increase in fares ranges from 1 paise per km for ordinary class journeys beyond 215 km to 2 paise per km for non-AC and AC classes in mail/express trains. This is the second fare revision in a year, following a similar hike in July. The ministry has rationalized fares to strike a balance between passenger affordability and operational sustainability. Under the new structure, suburban services and season tickets remain unchanged. Ordinary non-AC services have seen graded fare adjustments, with no increase for journeys up to 215 km to protect short-distance commuters. For longer journeys, fares increase in steps: ₹5 for 216-750 km, ₹10 for 751-1250 km, ₹15 for 1251-1750 km, and ₹20 for 1751-2250 km. Sleeper class ordinary and first class ordinary have uniform fare increases of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys. Mail/express trains see a 2 paise per kilometre hike across non-AC and AC classes, with minimal extra charges for passengers. The revised fares apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26, 2025. Existing fares for major train services, including Tejas Rajdhani and Shatabdi, have been updated accordingly. Indian Railways remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and affordable travel to millions of passengers daily, with the revised fare structure aimed at maintaining operational sustainability while safeguarding passenger convenience.
