Indian Railways passengers will have to pay slightly more for long-distance journeys starting Friday.
The Railway Ministry has announced a passenger fare hike that will apply to tickets booked on or after December 26.
The increase affects certain classes and distances, while some categories remain unchanged.
When and How the Fare Hike Applies
The new fares will be applicable only to journeys longer than 215 km.
Tickets booked before December 26 will not be affected, even if the travel date is later.
This is the second fare hike introduced this year.
The first increase was implemented in July.
Railways has clarified that suburban services and season tickets are not included in this revision.
What Has Changed for Different Classes
For ordinary class, fares have increased by one paisa per kilometre.
For non-AC mail and express trains, the hike is two paisa per kilometre.
For all AC classes, including AC Chair Car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC First Class, fares have also gone up by two paisa per kilometre.
For example, a journey of 500 km will now cost about ₹10 more.
No Change for Season Tickets
The Railways has confirmed that there is no increase in fares for season tickets, whether suburban or non-suburban.
Suburban train services also remain unaffected, providing relief to daily commuters.
Revised Structure for Ordinary Non-AC Services
Under the new system, ordinary non-AC services have been clearly divided into second class ordinary, sleeper class ordinary, and first class ordinary.
For sleeper class ordinary and first class ordinary on non-suburban routes, fares have been uniformly increased by one paisa per kilometre.
According to the ministry, this ensures only a gradual and limited impact on passengers.
Trains Covered Under the New Fares
The revised fares apply to major train services such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Humsafar, Antyodaya, Gatiman, Amrut Bharat, and other non-suburban services.
AC MEMU and DEMU services are excluded where applicable.
New Fare Increase for Second Class Ordinary
Here is how the fare increase works based on distance:
0–215 km: No increase
216–750 km: ₹5 increase
751–1250 km: ₹10 increase
1251–1750 km: ₹15 increase
1751–2250 km: ₹20 increase
Passengers planning long-distance travel are advised to check the updated fares while booking tickets to avoid surprises later.
