INDIAN RAILWAYS RATIONALISES PASSENGER FARES
New Delhi, Dec 26, 2025 : Indian Railways has rationalised its passenger fare structure with effect from December 26, 2025, aiming to balance passenger affordability with operational sustainability. Under the revised structure, there will be no increase in fares for suburban services, season tickets, and second-class ordinary journeys up to 215 kilometres.
For ordinary non-AC, non-suburban services, fares have been revised in a graded manner. Second-class ordinary fares remain unchanged for journeys up to 215 km. For distances between 216 km and 750 km, fares will increase by Rs.5, while longer journeys will see incremental increases of Rs.10 for 751–1250 km, Rs.15 for 1251–1750 km, and Rs.20 for 1751–2250 km.
Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary fares have been revised uniformly at the rate of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys, ensuring a limited impact on passengers.
In Mail and Express trains, fares across both non-AC and AC classes have been increased by 2 paise per kilometre. This applies to Sleeper, First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier and AC First Class coaches. For instance, a 500-km journey in non-AC Mail or Express trains will cost passengers approximately Rs.10 more.
The fare revision applies uniformly across major train services, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi and Antyodaya services, among others.
Indian Railways has clarified that there will be no change in reservation charges, superfast surcharges or other ancillary fees. GST applicability and fare rounding norms will also remain unchanged.
The revised fares will apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26, 2025. Tickets booked before this date will not attract any additional charges, even if the journey is undertaken after the fare revision comes into effect.
Indian Railways said the rationalisation reflects a calibrated approach to ensure continued provision of safe, reliable and affordable travel to passengers while maintaining financial sustainability.