The Railways clarified that any new tickets issued by TTEs or ticket-checking staff on trains or at stations on or after December 26, 2025, will be charged at the revised rates.
Train travel across India will become a little more expensive starting Friday, December 26, as Indian Railways brings in a fare hike across the country. This is the second time ticket prices have been raised in the last six months. The increase will mainly affect passengers travelling long distances on Mail and Express trains, including both AC and non-AC classes. Some of the busiest routes, such as Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Howrah, will be impacted. These routes are used every day by lakhs of people travelling for work, family reasons, and holidays.
Indian Railways said the fare change is meant to keep ticket prices reasonable while also managing rising operating costs. Railway Board Executive Director Dilip Kumar said the new ticket prices will apply from midnight on December 25.
He also said that there will be no change in fares for suburban trains and seasonal tickets. Passengers travelling up to 215 kilometres on passenger trains will also not have to pay anything extra.
Here is what you need to know about the new train fares:
- For Ordinary class journeys longer than 215 kilometres, the fare will increase by 1 paise per kilometre.
- For Mail and Express trains (non-AC), the fare will go up by 2 paise per kilometre.
- For AC classes, ticket prices will also increase by 2 paise per kilometre.
For example, if a passenger travels 500 kilometres in a non-AC coach, the ticket will cost Rs 10 more than before.
Ordinary Non-AC train fares revised
Indian Railways has changed fares for Ordinary Non-AC (non-suburban) trains using a step-by-step system based on distance.
Second Class Ordinary fares:
- Up to 215 km: No change
- 216 to 750 km: Fare increased by Rs 5
- 751 to 1,250 km: Fare increased by Rs 10
- 1,251 to 1,750 km: Fare increased by Rs 15
- 1,751 to 2,250 km: Fare increased by Rs 20
For Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary, fares have been revised at a uniform rate of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys. The hike is small and spread across distance, ensuring passengers do not face a sudden jump in ticket prices.
Mail and Express train fares increased slightly
Indian Railways has raised fares for Mail and Express trains by 2 paise per kilometre for both non-AC and AC coaches.
The increase applies to the following classes:
- Sleeper Class
- First Class
- AC Chair Car
- AC 3-Tier
- AC 2-Tier
- AC First Class
The rise is small. For example, on a 500-kilometre journey, a passenger travelling in a non-AC Mail or Express coach will pay about Rs 10 more than before.
