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Railways introduces Amrit Bharat II Express: No RAC, Sleeper passengers to pay for minimum 200 km | check fare structure

Amrit Bharat Express fare structure 2026: The Railway Board has decided to introduce the Amrit Bharat II Express across Indian Railways, with services commencing from January 2026 onwards.

4 min readUpdated: Jan 20, 2026 08:26 AM IST

Railways rolls out Amrit Bharat II Express with new fare rules

Amrit Bharat Express train new fare structure: Indian Railways has introduced Amrit Bharat II Express trains, with services commencing from January 2026 onwards. “It has been decided to introduce Amrit Bharat II Express (introduced from or after January 2026 onwards) over Indian Railways,” the Railway Board said. The Amrit Bharat Express is a new-generation train service offering affordable and safe long-distance inter-state travel with modern passenger-friendly features.

Fare structure of new Amrit Bharat Express

This new trains will have different fare structure. According to the new fare structure, the national transporter has fixed the minimum chargeable distance at 200 km for Sleeper class and 50 km for Second class.

However, the basic fare for the new Amrit Bharat Express trains remains unchanged and will be the same as that of the Amrit Bharat Express introduced before January 2026. The basic fare of the Amrit Bharat Express is Rs 149 for Sleeper class for journeys up to 200 km, and Rs 36 for Second class for journeys up to 50 km.

In a letter dated January 15, 2026, to all Principal Chief Commercial Managers, the Railway Board said: “Other charge like reservation charge, Superfast surcharge etc as applicable shall be levied separately. Rounding off of fare shall be made as per existing principle.”

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Amrit Bharat II Express fare structure

The Railway Board has also revised ticketing rules: RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) will no longer be available in Sleeper class. However, tickets for unreserved Second class will continue to be issued as per existing provisions.

“There shall be no provision for RAC tickets. For unreserved second class, tickets shall be issued as per existing provision. All available berths will be available from the day of Advance Reservation Period(ARP),” the letter reads.

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Amrit Bharat II Express fare structure limited to 3 quotas

According to the Railway Board, there will be only three quotas in Sleeper class. These are: Ladies quota, quota for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and Senior Citizen quota. “No other reservation quota shall be applicable for this train. For unreserved second class, it shall be applicable as per existing principles,” it said. However, the eligibility of Duty Pass for Railway employees shall be at par with eligibility in Mail/Express type trains.

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New Amrit Bharat Express fare structure 2026: Lower berth policy

Normal child fare rules will apply on the train. According to the Railway Board, in Sleeper class, if a passenger is traveling with a child who does not require a separate berth, the system will, wherever possible, allocate a lower berth. Meanwhile, for male passengers aged 60 years and above and female passengers aged 45 years and above, the system will attempt to automatically allot a lower berth, subject to availability and compaction.

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Amrit Bharat train fare structure 2026: Refund policy

“To enable initiation of refund within 24 hours of cancellation, for reserved tickets all payments shall be accepted only digitally. When ticket is purchased at window, the preferred payment mode shall be digital. In case a customer is unable to make digital payment, the refund against cancellation will be made as per normal terms. For unreserved second class, ticketing shall be as per existing principles,” the Railway Board said.

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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