Train Fare Hike: This is big news for daily train commuters. Train fares are set to change from December 26th. This will affect long-distance travelers.

Train Fare Hike: Millions of passengers travel from one city to another by train every day in India. The railway is considered the biggest lifeline for the common man. Now, important news has emerged for passengers. Indian Railways has made a major decision regarding train fares, which will directly affect those traveling long distances. The railway has announced that changes in train fares will be implemented from December 26, 2025.

Following this decision, traveling on many routes may become more expensive than before. However, the good news is that the railway has decided not to increase fares for journeys up to 215 kilometers, keeping short-distance commuters in mind. This means that daily commuters will not be affected for now. But long-distance travelers may have to spend more.

Fare increase for long distances

The railway has provided information regarding the fare increase. This change will only apply to long-distance journeys of more than 215 kilometers. In the normal category, passengers will now have to pay 1 paisa more per kilometer. While in the Mail, Express, and AC categories, this increase will be 2 paise per kilometer. For example, for a journey of 1000 kilometers:

Passengers traveling on a non-AC train on that route will have to pay approximately Rs. 10 extra.  Those traveling on premium trains like Sampark Kranti Express, Vande Bharat, and Rajdhani will have to pay about Rs. 20 more. Overall, the burden on passengers' pockets has not been increased significantly. However, even a small increase will have some impact on their finances.

These passengers will not have to pay an extra fare

Along with the fare increase, the railway has also provided some relief to passengers. According to the new rules, no extra fare will be charged for those traveling up to 215 kilometers in the normal category. This will directly benefit daily train commuters and short-distance travelers. It will not affect the pockets of people who commute to work, school, or between smaller towns.

The railways say this decision was made keeping ordinary passengers in mind. The railways believe that a slight increase in fares for long-distance and premium travel will improve resources, while short-distance passengers will continue to receive relief. This approach aims to maintain a balance in fare increases.