Indian Railways Revises Fares with Increases for Long-Distance Travel

Indian Railways announced a revised passenger fare structure on Sunday, set to take effect from December 26, 2025, introducing small increases for longer-distance and higher-class travel while leaving suburban services, monthly season tickets, and short trips unchanged. The adjustment aims to address escalating operational costs amid network expansion, with officials estimating it will generate approximately Rs 600 crore in additional revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Under the new policy, fares for ordinary class journeys up to 215 kilometers remain the same, providing relief to short-distance commuters. For distances beyond 215 kilometers in ordinary class, passengers will face an increase of 1 paise per kilometer. Mail and express trains in non-air-conditioned coaches, as well as all air-conditioned classes, will see a rise of 2 paise per kilometer. Officials emphasized that the changes are marginal, noting that a typical 500-kilometer trip in a non-air-conditioned coach would cost just Rs 10 more than current rates.

The revision spares suburban train services and monthly season tickets entirely, protecting daily commuters and lower-income travelers who rely...