Indian Railways has announced a revision in passenger fares, which will come into effect from December 26, 2025. However, there will be no increase in fares for journeys up to 215 kilometers. A marginal increase has been implemented for long-distance journeys in ordinary, Mail/Express, and AC trains.
Rail Fare Increased by 1–2 Paise per km for Long-Distance Travel
New Delhi: Indian Railways has taken a major decision for rail passengers across the country. The Ministry of Railways has announced that a revision in train fares will be implemented from December 26. This decision will affect passengers traveling long distances, although the railways have provided relief to those traveling short distances and daily commuters.
According to the railways, no additional fare will be charged from passengers traveling up to 215 kilometers. This relief is for ordinary class passengers. The railways state that the objective of this decision is to avoid placing an additional burden on the pockets of daily commuters and those traveling short distances.
The railways have clarified that there will be no change in the prices of suburban trains and monthly season tickets (MSTs). This will provide relief to millions of passengers who travel daily on local trains. This step has been taken by the railways keeping in mind the interests of daily commuters.
According to the railways, there will be a marginal increase in fares for journeys exceeding 215 kilometers.
Ordinary class: 1 paisa per kilometer
Mail/Express and AC classes: 2 paise per kilometer
For example, a journey of approximately 1000 kilometers on a non-AC train like the Jan Sadharan Express will cost about ₹10 extra. In premium trains like Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, or Shatabdi, this increase will be approximately ₹20. New Fares to Apply to These Trains
According to the Ministry of Railways, the revised fares will apply to all non-suburban services, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, AC Vistadome, and Anubhuti coaches.
It is noteworthy that this is the second time in 2025 that rail fares have been increased. A similar increase was implemented on July 1, 2025. At that time, the increase was 1 paisa per kilometer for Mail/Express trains and 2 paise per kilometer for AC trains.
The Railways estimates that this fare revision will generate approximately ₹600 crore in additional revenue. According to the Railways, this amount will be used to cover operating costs, improve station facilities, maintain coaches, and strengthen passenger safety measures. The Railways stated that significant investments have been made in network expansion and service improvements over the past decade.
