Train journey to cost more from Monday

Travelling by train will become costlier from tomorrow with the revised fare structure coming into effect.

Passengers will have to shell out Rs 95 more for travelling to Bangalore from Delhi in AC First Class in Rajdhani as Railways has increased the fare by about 2 percent for all classes, including Sleeper and AC, from Monday.

In Punjab Mail, the AC-1 journey from Ferozpur to Mumbai will cost Rs 75 more.

While the AC Second Class journey from here to Mumbai will be dearer by Rs 40 in Rajdhani, a person will be paying Rs 35 more for travelling to Jammu availing the AC-1 service in Jammu Rajdhani.

The revised fares will also apply to tickets issued in advance for journey to commence on or after October 7.

However, there is no increase in the second class tickets in suburban trains and monthly season tickets.

Facing an additional burden of about Rs 1,200 crore due to the increased diesel and electricity cost, Railways has decided to revise the passenger and freight tariff, linking it with fuel adjustment component (FAC).

The introduction of FAC in the passenger and freight tariff was proposed by former Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi in the Rail Budget 2012-13.

"The decision to revise tariff was taken due to the increased cost of input in the last six months. There has been an increase of 7.3 per cent in the fuel charge, while electricity cost has gone up by 15.5 per cent," a senior Railway Ministry official said.

The 2 percent passenger fare hike, second time in a year, would be effected from October 7, while a similar hike of about 1.7 percent in freight would be effected from October 10 under the FAC.

Railways had earlier effected the FAC-linked freight tariff increase by 5.7 percent in April, followed by the busy season charge by 15 percent from October 1.

In the passenger service, Railways had increased the fare by about 15 percent on January 22 before the Rail Budget 2013-14.

The hike in passenger and freight tariff would help Railways mop up about Rs 1,250 crore in the last six months of the current fiscal, the official said.