Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Indian Railways has announced a fresh revision in passenger fares, making travel in AC coaches and Mail/Express trains slightly costlier from December 26, marking the second fare hike in the current financial year.
Details of the Fare Revision
Under the revised structure, passengers travelling in non-AC Mail and Express trains and all AC classes will pay an additional 2 paise per kilometre. This means a passenger covering a distance of 500 km in a non-AC coach will have to pay around Rs 10 extra. For ordinary class journeys beyond 215 km, fares will rise by 1 paise per kilometre.
Who Will Not Be Affected
There will be no fare increase for suburban train services and Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders, who constitute the largest share of railway passengers. Ordinary class passengers travelling up to 215 km are also exempted from the hike, a move aimed at protecting short-distance and economically weaker travellers.
Why Railways Revised Fares
Railway officials said the fare rationalisation is necessary to manage rising operational costs. Over the past decade, the rail network has expanded significantly, with increased focus on safety, higher speeds, and more services. Manpower expenses have climbed to Rs 1.15 lakh crore, pension liabilities to Rs 60,000 crore, and the total operational cost for 2024–25 has reached Rs 2.63 lakh crore.
Expected Revenue Impact
Indian Railways expects to generate around Rs 600 crore in additional revenue during the current year through this limited fare revision, while continuing to focus on higher cargo loading to balance costs.
