New Delhi: Passengers travelling on long-distance trains will have to pay marginally higher fares as Indian Railways has revised ticket prices with effect from December 26, 2025. The fare hike applies to general, mail, express and AC classes on journeys exceeding 215 kilometres, while local train commuters and monthly pass holders have been kept out of its ambit.
Railway officials said the revised fares have come into force immediately and will affect passengers undertaking long-haul travel. The increase, however, has been described as minimal, aimed at balancing rising operational costs without placing a heavy burden on the common man.
Under the new structure, passengers travelling in general class for distances beyond 215 km will pay an additional one paisa per kilometre. For non-AC classes of mail and express trains, the fare has been increased by two paise per kilometre. AC class fares have also gone up by two paise per kilometre.
This means a passenger travelling 500 kilometres in a non-AC class will pay only about ₹10 more than earlier, railway sources said.
Short-distance travellers have been given relief, as journeys of up to 215 kilometres remain unaffected. Daily commuters, including those travelling within the Delhi-NCR region and between nearby cities for work or education, will continue to get tickets at existing rates. Monthly pass holders will also not see any change in fares.
Explaining the rationale behind the revision, the Railways said the step was taken to partially offset increasing costs, particularly in freight operations, while ensuring improvements in passenger services and safety. Officials maintained that the fare adjustment was kept deliberately modest to minimise its impact.
While long-distance passengers will now need to spend slightly more on train travel, the Railways has ensured that regular short-distance commuters remain unaffected, signalling a calibrated approach to fare revision.
