Indian Railways fare hike from December 26: How much more will you pay?

If you are planning a long train journey after Christmas, your ticket may cost a little more.

From December 26, passengers travelling in AC coaches and non-AC Mail and Express trains will see a small increase in fares, with Indian Railways revising ticket prices by 2 paise per kilometre.

For most travellers, the change will show up as a modest addition, about Rs 10 extra on a 500-km journey, even as daily commuters and short-distance passengers remain unaffected. The revision is part of Railways’ effort to balance rising operating costs while keeping travel affordable for the bulk of its users.


This is the second passenger fare revision in FY26, after an earlier hike implemented in July.

Also Read: Indian Railways to hike ticket prices from Dec 26, estimates Rs 600 cr revenue gain

The ministry has, however, shielded the largest and most price-sensitive passenger segments. There will be no increase in fares for suburban train services and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs). In addition, ordinary class passengers travelling up to 215 km will not face any fare hike, a move aimed at protecting short-distance and economically weaker travellers.

IRCTC price hike: What fares are changing

Under the current fare rationalisation:

• Ordinary class (beyond 215 km): 1 paise per km (applies only to distance beyond 215 km)
  
• Mail and Express non-AC classes (2S, Sleeper): 2 paise per km (applies to full journey distance)
  
• AC classes (3A, 2A, 1A): 2 paise per km (applies to full journey distance)
  
  

Officials explained that a passenger travelling 500 km in a non-AC Mail or Express coach will have to pay Rs 10 extra after the revision.

How the increase works on major long-distance routes

The increase applies only to the base passenger fare. Reservation charges, superfast surcharge and GST remain unchanged.

Possible impact on key routes (Mail/Express trains)

Route	Approx Distance (km)	Increase per km	Total increase in base fare
Delhi – Mumbai	~1,400 km	₹0.02	~₹28
Delhi – Kolkata	~1,440 km	₹0.02	~₹29
Delhi – Chennai	~2,200 km	₹0.02	~₹44
Mumbai – Bengaluru	~1,200 km	₹0.02	~₹24
Howrah – Chennai	~1,660 km	₹0.02	~₹33

Note: These figures represent only the increase in base fare and not the final ticket amount shown on booking platforms.

Why Railways raised fares

Indian Railways expects to earn around Rs 600 crore during the current year as a result of this fare rationalisation.

Officials said that over the last decade, Indian Railways has expanded its network and operations, with more train services, higher speeds and an increased focus on safety. This has led to a sharp rise in costs. Manpower expenses have increased to Rs 1.15 lakh crore, while pension costs have risen to Rs 60,000 crore. For 2024–25, the total cost of operations has reached Rs 2.63 lakh crore.

To manage these rising costs, officials told Times of India that Railways is focusing on higher cargo loading along with limited passenger fare rationalisation.