India's Train Fares Soar: What You Need to Know About the Latest Price Hike
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India's train travel is set to become more expensive starting today, following Indian Railways' nationwide fare hike. This is the second fare increase in less than six months, with the previous hike in July generating a revenue of ₹700 crore, according to news agency PTI. The latest fare hike is expected to fetch an additional ₹600 crores for the national transporter by March 31, 2026. Here's a breakdown of the changes: - Ordinary class fares beyond 215 km will increase by 1 paise per km. - Mail/Express non-AC fares will rise by 2 paise per km. - AC class fares will also increase by 2 paise per km. However, there will be no change in the monthly season tickets of suburban trains or fares for travel up to 215 km in ordinary class of other trains. According to the railways ministry, the fare hike is necessary to cover the increased costs of operations and improved safety measures. Over the last decade, the railways have expanded their network and operations significantly, leading to a higher manpower cost of ₹1,15,000 crore and a pension cost of ₹60,000 crore. The total cost of operations has increased to ₹2,63,000 crore in 2024-25. The railways aim to meet these increased costs through fare rationalisation, while also improving safety and operations. As a result, India has become the second-largest cargo-carrying railway in the world.
