Indian Railways hike fare from Dec 26: Non-AC tickets to cost Rs 10 more for every 500 km

(File photo)

Longer train journeys are set to become expensive for passengers as the Indian Railways have decided to hike the train fare, with effect from December 26.

While fares for suburban train travel have not been hiked, longer journeys would cost more.

Under the revised fares, passengers travelling up to 500 km in non-AC coaches will have to pay an additional Rs 10. However, the fare rationalisation does not apply to suburban (local) services and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs). There is also no fare increase for journeys up to 215 km in the ordinary class, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The Railways has also increased fares for Mail and Express trains in non-AC coaches by 2 paise per km, while AC class fares have also been raised by 2 paise per km.

In a statement, Railways has said it has expanded its network and operations significantly over the past decade, and it is increasing its manpower. The latest fare hike will hike the Railways' earnings by Rs 600 crore annually.

The Railways said its manpower cost has increased to Rs 1,15,000 crore and pension cost to Rs 60,000 crore. The total cost of operations has increased to Rs 2,63,000 crore in the 2024-25 financial year.

Earlier, the Railways hiked fares in July. The fare in non-air-conditioned class in Mail and Express trains was hiked by 1 paise per km and travel in air-conditioned classes became dearer by 2 paise per km.

Before that, train fare was hiked on January 1, 2020. In 2020, second-class fare for ordinary and mail/express trains increased by 1 paisa/km and 2 paise/km, respectively. Fares in sleeper classes and all AC classes went up by 2 paise/km and 4 paise/km, respectively.