Indian Railways tickets are cheapest globally, says Union Minister

India Dec 10, 2025

Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw just told Parliament that train tickets here are the most affordable compared to neighboring and developed countries—costing only 5-10% of what people pay in developed countries.
To keep fares this low, Indian Railways covered a huge ₹60,000 crore subsidy last year.

Why he said this

Vaishnaw was answering a question about bringing back senior citizen discounts, which were paused during COVID-19.
He explained that India's rail fares are kept lower than even neighboring countries, highlighting the government's implied focus on making travel affordable for everyone.