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Relief for passengers: Train fare hike won’t affect already booked tickets, says Indian Railways

Indian Railways fare hike latest news: The Ministry of Railways said that the fare list displayed for the public at railway stations will be revised to reflect the new fares effective from December 26, 2025.

3 min readUpdated: Dec 26, 2025 08:37 AM IST

Rail fare hike: Revised fares not applicable on old tickets, says railways. (Image generated using AI)

Indian Railways fare hike latest news: Revised fares not applicable on old tickets, says railways. (Image generated using AI)

Train fare increase, Indian Railways fare hike latest news: Indian Railways (IR) has clarified that passengers who have already booked their train tickets will not have to pay any additional amount on or after December 26. The revised fare structure of Indian Railways will come into effect from Friday, December 26. This marks the second train fare hike in the last six months.

Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (I&P), Railway Board has confirmed the development. “New fare structure will be applicable on ticket issue on or after that date,” he said.

Also Read | Train fare hike from Dec 26: Here’s how much more you will pay for Delhi–Howrah, Delhi–Mumbai travel

Train ticket price hike news

In a statement on Thursday, the national transporter said that tickets already issued at pre-revised rates will not be affected by the revised fares. Accordingly, any fare difference for journeys on or after December 26 will not be reflected in the reservation chart. However, the Railways clarified that tickets issued by TTEs or ticket-checking staff on trains or at stations on or after December 26 will be charged at the revised rates.

“In case of tickets already issued at pre-revised rates, the revised fare shall not be applicable on such tickets. Accordingly, difference of fare for journey on or after 26.12.2025 on such tickets shall not be shown in the reservation chart. However, any new tickets made by TTE/ticket checking staff in trains/at stations on or after 26.12.2025 shall be charged on revised rate,” the Ministry of Railways said.

Also Read | From ticket booking to new trains: Top 10 Indian Railways changes in 2026 you need to know

Train fare chart 2025

Under the revised train fares, the passengers travelling up to 500 km in non-AC coaches will have to pay an additional Rs 10. The national transporter has increased fares for Mail and Express trains in non-AC coaches by 2 paise per km, while AC class fares have also been raised by 2 paise per km. In a statement, it said the fare rationalisation is expected to generate around Rs 600 crore in additional revenue this year.

Protected: Suburban & Season tickets remain unchanged

Ordinary Non-AC (Non-Suburban)

Second Class Ordinary

₹0.01/km

Distance slabs: No increase (0-215km) • ₹5 (216-750km) • ₹10 (751-1250km) • ₹15 (1251-1750km) • ₹20 (1751-2250km)

Sleeper Class Ordinary

₹0.01/km

Flat rate increase

First Class Ordinary

₹0.01/km

Flat rate increase

Mail/Express (Non-AC)

Second Class

₹0.02/km

Mail/Express trains

Sleeper Class

₹0.02/km

Mail/Express trains

First Class

₹0.02/km

Mail/Express trains

AC Classes

AC Chair Car

₹0.02/km

All AC trains

AC 3-tier/3E

₹0.02/km

All AC trains

AC 2-tier

₹0.02/km

All AC trains

AC First/EC/EA

₹0.02/km

Premium AC classes

Express InfoGenIE

Indian Railways expenditure

To meet the higher manpower costs, the national transporter said it is focusing on increasing cargo loading along with a small amount in rationalisation of passenger fares.

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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