Indian Railways has increased train ticket fare for AC coaches as well as non-AC passengers on Mail and Express trains for the second time in less than six months.
Under the revised train ticket fare structure, passengers will now have to pay an additional 2 paise per kilometre for travelling in AC coaches and non-AC Mail and Express trains.
As a result of the hike, a passenger travelling 500 km in a non-AC coach will have to pay Rs 10 extra on the ticket fare.
The revised ticket fare will be effective from December 26 and is estimated to generate Rs 600 crore in revenue till March 31, 2026.
However, the train ticket fare for suburban (local) services and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) will remain the same. Similarly, train ticket fare has not been changed for journeys up to 215 km in ordinary class.
“There is no increase in the monthly season tickets of suburban trains and up to 215 km travel in ordinary class of other trains,” said Railways officials.
This is the second hike in train ticket fares in the current financial year. Earlier, the Indian Railways had hiked its fare in July this year. The July hike has generated Rs 700 crore in revenue for the Railways.
Railways has attributed this hike in train ticket fare to the increased manpower and expanded operations over the oast decade.
According to Railways, its total manpower coast has increased to Rs 1,15,000 crore and pension cost to Rs 60,000 crore. Moreover, Railways’ total cost of operations has also increased to Rs 2,63,000 crore in 2024-25.