Rail Fare Hike: 1 to 2 Paise Extra per Kilometer

Indian Railways has announced a fare hike for long-distance travel, effective from December 26, 2025. Passengers traveling over 215 kilometers will now have to pay an additional 1 to 2 paise per kilometer. The railway expects to earn an additional ₹600 crore annually due to this change.

Changes in Fare for Short Routes and Season Ticket Holders

For passengers traveling under 215 kilometers and for those holding monthly season tickets, there will be no change in fares. The fare hike will only apply to long-distance travel, meaning shorter routes will remain unaffected.

Relief for Daily Commuters and Local Travelers

Railways has provided relief to millions of passengers traveling on short routes. There will be no increase in fares for journeys under 215 kilometers, making short-distance travel as affordable as before. Additionally, there is good news for daily commuters, as there will be no change in the fare for suburban (local) trains or monthly season tickets (MST). This means commuters in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai will not face any additional financial burden.

Why is the Fare Increase Necessary?

According to sources in the Ministry of Railways, the fare hike is essential to cover the rising operational costs and to fund infrastructure development projects. Indian Railways is constantly working to improve its services, run new trains, and modernize stations. The ₹600 crore in additional revenue from this fare hike will be used to fund these improvements.

Fare Increase for the Second Time This Year

This will be the second fare hike in 2025. Earlier this year, on July 1, the government had raised fares by 1 paise per kilometer for non-AC mail/express trains and by 2 paise per kilometer for AC classes. The last fare hike was implemented in 2020.

General Ticket Print Not Necessary

Indian Railways has clarified that passengers no longer need to carry a printed copy of the general (unreserved) ticket. According to the Railways, passengers using the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) mobile app can simply show the digital ticket on their mobile devices.