Rail fare hike: Indian Railways has decided to increase long-distance train fares from December 26, 2025. This is the second increase in 2025. Travelers over 215 km will have to pay an additional 1-2 paise per km, while shorter routes and local passengers will receive relief. Learn the full details.
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Rail fare hike: Indian Railways has decided to increase fares for long-distance passengers. This new fare will be effective from December 26, 2025. This is the second time this year, i.e., 2025, that the government has increased railway ticket prices.
Under this plan, passengers traveling more than 215 kilometers will now have to pay an additional 1 to 2 paise per kilometer. The Railways estimates that this change will generate additional revenue of approximately ₹600 crore annually.
Relief for those traveling on short routes
The Railways has clarified that fares for passengers traveling distances less than 215 kilometers remain unchanged. This means that millions of passengers traveling on shorter routes will have to pay the same fares as before. This will not impose any additional burden on daily or short-distance travelers.
No Impact on Local Trains and Season Tickets
The Railways has also extended relief to daily travelers. No changes have been made to the prices of suburban local trains and Monthly Season Tickets (MST). This will directly benefit millions of passengers traveling by local trains in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Details of the Rail Fare Changes
| Category | Changes in fares |
|
Suburban trains and Monthly Season Ticket (MST)
|
no changes |
| Ordinary class up to 215 km | no changes |
| Ordinary class over 215 km |
1 paisa per kilometer
|
| Mail/Express Non-AC Class |
2 paise per kilometer
|
| Mail/Express AC Class |
2 paise per kilometer
|
| 500 km journey in non-AC class | ₹10 extra |
How much will the fare increase from Ayodhya to Delhi
The fare hike will have a direct impact on this 713-kilometer distance. According to new railway rules, additional charges for journeys longer than 215 kilometers will apply to the entire journey. This means that for a journey of approximately 713 kilometers from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to New Delhi, you will have to pay approximately ₹7.13 extra in ordinary class, at the rate of 1 paisa per kilometer.
If the same journey is made in Mail/Express non-AC or AC class, the additional fare at the rate of 2 paise per kilometer would be approximately ₹14.26. This means that even on longer routes like Ayodhya-New Delhi, fare increases will be somewhat limited and passengers will not be burdened significantly.
Why did the Railways need to increase fares?
The Ministry of Railways’ decision to increase fares was made in response to rising operational costs and the need for infrastructure development. The Railways is continuously investing in the introduction of new trains, modernization of stations, and improvement of service quality.
The additional revenue of ₹600 crore from fare hikes will be used for these projects. As the country’s second-largest employer, the railways incur significant costs in maintaining its vast network.
Rent hike for the second time in a year
This isn’t the first time rail fares have been revised this year. Previously, fares were increased on July 1, 2025. At that time, fares for non-AC mail and express trains were increased by 1 paisa per kilometer, and AC class fares were increased by 2 paisa per kilometer. Passenger fares were last increased in 2020.
According to the Railway Ministry, the last fare hike in July 2025 has generated additional revenue of approximately ₹700 crore. The current hike is expected to further strengthen the railway’s financial position.
244 special trains for Christmas and New Year
To handle the increased crowds during Christmas and New Year 2025-26, Indian Railways has planned to run a total of 244 special train trips across eight zones. The ministry said that more trips will be announced in the coming days if needed.
Railways says that these special trains will provide passengers with additional seats, better facilities and relief from crowds, so that they can celebrate Christmas and New Year 2026 without any stress.
Enhanced connectivity on key routes
Special trains are being run on busy routes connecting Delhi, Howrah, Lucknow and nearby cities to provide relief to long distance travellers.
Daily and weekly special trains are running between Mumbai CSMT/LTT and Karmali and Madgaon on the Mumbai-Goa (Konkan) corridor. Additional services have also been introduced on Mumbai-Nagpur, Pune-Sanganer, and other routes in Maharashtra.
Railway network almost completely electrified
Indian Railways has also made significant progress in electrifying its broad gauge network. According to the ministry, approximately 99.1% of the broad gauge railway network is now electrified. This is expected to increase operational efficiency and reduce fuel costs.
In a December 20 release, the Railway Ministry stated that the high-speed bullet train project in Maharashtra has gained momentum, with 100% land acquisition completed. Between 2014 and 2025, the railways have purchased nearly 200,000 wagons and added more than 10,000 locomotives, increasing freight loading and movement capacity.
