Railways rationalises basic fare for passenger train services from July 1

There will be no changes in fares for Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) and Suburban train fares. Additionally, other charges like the reservation fee and superfast surcharge will remain unchanged.

In a move aimed at streamlining fare structures and enhancing financial sustainability of passenger services, the Ministry of Railways has rationalised the basic fare of Passenger train services, effective from July 1, 2025. The revised fares are based on the updated Passenger Fare Table issued by the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA).

The Ministry of Railways will implement a set of key changes to its passenger booking system from July 1, marking a significant shift in reservation protocols, charting timelines, ticketing security, and fare structures. Officials recently announced plans to hike specific fares. Moreover, passengers should be aware that Aadhaar-based OTP verification will become mandatory for Tatkal ticket bookings as of July 1, 2025.

This will be the first increase since the last fare hike in 2020. The maximum fare hike, Indian Railways stated, will be 2 paise per kilometre.

Fares for non-AC coaches will rise by 1 paisa per kilometre, while AC classes will see an increase of 2 paise per kilometre. However, there will be no fare changes for suburban trains and ordinary second-class travel for distances up to 500 kilometre.

For second-class journeys exceeding 500 kilometre, fares will increase by only 0.5 paisa per kilometre. Monthly season tickets (MSTs) will remain unaffected, providing relief to daily commuters.

There will be no changes in fares for Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) and Suburban train fares. Additionally, other charges like the reservation fee and superfast surcharge will remain unchanged.

In addition to the fare hike, Indian Railways will tighten rules for Tatkal ticket bookings. Starting July 1, 2025, only passengers who have completed Aadhaar verification will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website or mobile app. From July 15, 2025, an OTP-based Aadhaar authentication will become mandatory during the Tatkal booking process. This move aims to increase transparency and reduce fraudulent bookings.

Indian Railways is also working on preparing the final reservation chart eight hours prior to a train’s departure, replacing the previous norm of four hours. This significant shift aims to enhance transparency and passenger convenience. The move, currently under pilot testing, is expected to benefit waitlisted passengers by giving them additional time to make alternate plans if their tickets remain unconfirmed.