Railway fares go up from July 1 for long-distance, AC, and express trains

In a move aimed at streamlining fare structures and enhancing the financial sustainability of passenger services, the Ministry of Railways has hiked the basic fare of passenger train services, effective from July 1, 2025.

The revised fares are based on the updated passenger fare table issued by the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA). Revised fares will apply to tickets booked on or after July 1, 2025. While suburban fares remain unchanged, modest increases have been introduced across ordinary, mail/express, and AC classes.

Tickets issued before this date will remain valid at the existing fare without any fare adjustment. PRS (Passenger Reservation System), UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System), and manual ticketing systems are being updated accordingly, says the ministry, adding that it has issued necessary instructions to all zonal railways to ensure smooth implementation of the revised fare structure.

Key highlights of fare hikes:

No change in suburban single journey fares and season tickets (for both suburban and non-suburban routes).

For ordinary non-AC classes (non-suburban trains):

Second Class: Increased by half a paisa per kilometre, subject to the condition that:

No increase up to 500 km

Increase by ₹5 for distances 501 to 1500 km

Increase by ₹10 for distances 1501 to 2500 km

Increase by ₹15 for distances 2501 to 3000 km

Sleeper Class: Increased by 0.5 paisa per km

First Class: Increased by 0.5 paisa per kilometre

For mail/express trains (non-AC):

Second Class: Increased by 01 paisa/km

Sleeper Class: Increased by 01 paisa/km

First Class: Increased by 01 paisa/km

For AC Classes (mail/express trains):

AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier/3-Economy, AC 2-Tier, and AC First/Executive Class/Executive Anubhuti: Increased by 02 paisa per kilometre

The fare revision also applies to premier and special train services such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, AC Vistadome coaches, Anubhuti coaches, and Ordinary non-suburban services, in accordance with the revised class-wise fare structure.

No change in ancillary charges:

Reservation fees, superfast surcharges, and other charges remain unchanged.

GST will continue to be levied as per applicable rules.

Fare rounding principles remain as per existing norms.