Rail Travel Gets Costlier from Today: Fare Increased for Journeys Over 500 km

National News: An important decision has been announced that will impact crores of passengers traveling by Indian Railways. The fare hike proposed by the Railway Board has received approval from the Central Government and will come into effect today. This revision will primarily affect passengers traveling in long-distance mail, express, and superfast trains.

Scope of the Fare Hike

As per the Ministry of Railways, fares for AC coaches have been raised by 2 paise per kilometer, while non-AC classes will incur an increase of 1 paisa per kilometer. This increase is applicable only on journeys longer than 500 kilometers. Passengers traveling shorter distances will remain unaffected.

For example, a passenger covering 1,000 kilometers will now pay ₹20 more in AC class and ₹10 more in non-AC class.

Who Is Exempted from the Hike?

The Railway Ministry has clarified that there will be no change in the fares of suburban local trains. Additionally, Monthly Season Ticket (MST) holders have been exempted from this fare increase.

Moreover, passengers who have booked their tickets before July 1 will not be required to pay the revised fare. Their tickets will remain valid at the previously applicable fare rates.

Trains Where the New Fare Will Apply

The revised fares will apply to the following trains:

• Rajdhani
• Shatabdi
• Vande Bharat
• Tejas
• Humsafar
• Duronto
• Amrit Bharat
• Mahamana
• Jan Shatabdi
• Garib Rath
• Antyodaya
• Gatimaan
• And other superfast train services

This change will affect all AC and non-AC classes on the above-mentioned trains.

No Change in Reservation Charges or Taxes

Indian Railways has stated that the fare hike is limited exclusively to the base fare. There will be no change in reservation charges, superfast surcharge, or GST. Ticket prices will continue to be rounded off in the usual manner—for example, a fare of ₹5.04 will be rounded off to ₹6.

First-Time Implementation Without Retroactive Impact

Previously, whenever fare hikes were introduced, passengers who had already booked their tickets were often charged the difference during the journey. However, for the first time, the Indian Railways will implement the revised fare only on new bookings made on or after July 1, 2025.

While this new system will make long-distance rail travel slightly more expensive, it also brings welcome relief for local and suburban passengers. For those planning trips in the coming months, booking tickets before July 1 could prove to be a smart financial decision.