**Executive Summary**
Indian Railways has rationalised its passenger fare structure, effective December 26, 2025, to balance affordability and operational sustainability. The revision includes a minimal fare increase for Sleeper and First Class Ordinary and Mail/Express trains, while ensuring no fare increase for suburban services, season tickets and second class ordinary journeys up to 215 km. Reservation fees, superfast charges, and GST remain unchanged.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Fare Structure**
* No changes in fares for suburban services and Season Tickets.
* Reservation fees, superfast surcharges, and GST applicability remain unchanged.
* Fare rounding rules remain unchanged.
* **Ordinary Non-AC (Non-Suburban) Services**
* Fares have been rationalised in a graded manner for Second Class Ordinary, Sleeper Class Ordinary, and First Class Ordinary.
* Second Class Ordinary: No fare increase for journeys up to 215 km.
* Second Class Ordinary: Fare increases from ₹5 to ₹20 for distances between 216 km and 2250 km, applied in steps based on distance.
* Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary: Uniform increase of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys.
* **Mail/Express Trains**
* Fare rationalised at 2 paise per kilometre across Non-AC and AC classes.
* **Effective Date and Applicability**
* Revised fares apply only to tickets booked on or after December 26, 2025.
* Tickets booked before this date will not attract additional charges.
* Fare list at stations will be updated effective December 26, 2025.
* **Commercial Circular**
* Commercial Circular can be seen at- https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/traffic_comm/Comm_Cir_2025/CC_24_2025.pdf
**Impact Analysis**
**Passengers**
* **Impact:** Some passengers using Sleeper Class Ordinary, First Class Ordinary, and Mail/Express trains will experience a slight fare increase. Passengers travelling short distances (up to 215 km) in Second Class Ordinary will not be impacted by fare increases.
* **Action Required:** Passengers should be aware of the new fare structure when booking tickets on or after December 26, 2025.
**Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Aims to balance affordability for passengers and sustainability of operations through rationalised fare structure.
* **Action Required:** Update fare lists at stations and online platforms to reflect the new fares effective December 26, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The primary organization implementing the fare rationalization policy.
Commercial Circular: Document detailing the specifics of the fare structure revisions, accessible online.
Season Tickets: A category of tickets for which no fare increase is applied.
Second Class Ordinary Journeys: Applies to journeys up to 215 km where there is no fare increase.
Ministry of Railways: The ministry responsible for issuing this fare rationalisation policy.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways Rationalises Fare Structure; No
Fare Increase for Suburban Services, Season
Tickets and Second Class Ordinary Journeys up
to 215 km
Minimising Impact on Passengers: Only 1 Paise per Km
Increase for Sleeper and First Class Ordinary
Across AC and Non-AC Classes, Mail/Express Fare Revision
Limited to 2 Paise per Km
No Change in Reservation Fees or Superfast Charges, Under
Fare Rationalisation; GST Applicability and Fare Rounding
Rules Also Remain Unchanged
Revised Fares to Apply Only on Tickets Booked from 26
December 2025, with No Impact on Existing Bookings Even
for Future Travel
प्रव तथ: 25 DEC 2025 5:30PM by PIB Delhi
The Railways has rationalised its passenger fare structure with effect from 26 December 2025, with the
objective of balancing affordability for passengers and sustainability of operations.
Under the revised fare structure, there is no change in fares for suburban services and Season Tickets,
including both suburban and non-suburban routes.
For Ordinary Non-AC (Non-Suburban) services, fares have been rationalised in a graded manner across
Second Class Ordinary, Sleeper Class Ordinary, and First Class Ordinary.
In Second Class Ordinary, there is no increase in fare for journeys up to 215 km, ensuring that short-
distance and daily commuters are not impacted. For distances from 216 km to 750 km, the fare increases
by ₹5. For longer journeys, the increase is applied in steps — ₹10 for distances between 751 km and
1250 km, ₹15 for distances between 1251 km and 1750 km, and ₹20 for distances between 1751 km
and 2250 km.
In Sleeper Class Ordinary and First Class Ordinary, fares have been revised uniformly at the rate of 1
paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys, ensuring a gradual and limited increase in fares.In Mail/Express trains, the fare increase has been rationalised at 2 paise per kilometre across Non-AC
and AC classes. This includes Sleeper Class, First Class, AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, and AC
First Class. As an illustration, for a 500 km journey in non-AC Mail/Express coaches, passengers will
pay only about ₹10 extra.
The existing basic fares of major train services, including Tejas Rajdhani, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto,
Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan
Shatabdi, Yuva Express, Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, and Ordinary non-suburban services (excluding AC
MEMU/DEMU, where applicable), have been revised in line with the approved class-wise basic fare
increases. The revision has been carried out uniformly and in a calibrated manner across applicable
classes.
Notably, no changes have been made in reservation fees, superfast surcharges, or other ancillary
charges, which will continue to be levied as per existing rules. GST applicability remains unchanged,
and fares will continue to be rounded off according to prevailing norms.
The revised fares are applicable only on tickets booked on or after 26 December 2025. Tickets booked
prior to this date will not attract any additional charges, even if the journey is undertaken after the
effective date.
The fare list displayed at stations will also be updated to reflect the new fares effective from 26.12.2025.
Indian Railways remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable travel to millions of
passengers every day. The revised fare structure reflects a balanced approach that safeguards passenger
convenience while maintaining operational sustainability.
Commercial Circular can be seen at- https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/
directorate/traffic_comm/Comm_Cir_2025/CC_24_2025.pdf
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