Indian Railways fares going up from December 26
Heads up if you travel long distances by train—Indian Railways is hiking fares starting December 26, 2025.
Most short-distance and daily commuters won't see a change, but the move is set to bring in about ₹600 crore next year to help cover rising costs, including investments in safety and operations.
Who's affected and by how much?
If your trip is under 215km or you use suburban trains or Monthly Season Tickets, your fare stays the same.
For longer journeys, Ordinary class goes up by one paise/km, while Mail/Express Non-AC and AC tickets rise by two paise/km.
For context: a 500km non-AC ride will cost about ₹10 more; major routes like Delhi-Mumbai could see a ₹30 bump.
Why the hike now?
Railway costs have shot up—think salaries, pensions, and big investments in safety (which actually helped cut accidents way down).
Right now, passenger fares only cover about half of what it takes to run the railways.
This small hike helps close that gap without hitting most everyday travelers.