Rail ticket fares revised from December 26; Long-distance passengers to pay slightly more

Indian Railways announces a new fare structure effective December 26, 2025, while keeping suburban and short-distance travel unchanged and rolling out special trains for the festive season.

Indian Railways on Sunday announced a revised passenger fare structure that will come into effect from December 26, 2025. The new pricing is expected to generate an additional ₹600 crore in revenue, according to estimates by the Railways, which is India’s second-largest employer.

Under the revised structure, ticket prices will increase only for passengers travelling longer distances. For those using Ordinary Class services beyond 215 km, fares will rise by 1 paisa per kilometre. In Mail and Express trains, both Non-AC and AC class passengers will pay 2 paise more per kilometre.

For shorter journeys of up to 215 km in Ordinary Class, there will be no change in ticket prices. Similarly, suburban train fares and monthly season tickets remain untouched, a move aimed at protecting daily commuters and low- and middle-income families from additional financial burden.

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As per Railway officials, the impact of the hike will be modest.

The Railway Ministry also pointed out that the earlier fare revision implemented in July 2025 has already generated ₹700 crore in revenue so far, indicating a steady improvement in earnings without imposing heavy costs on passengers.

Revised Fare Structure at a Glance

•    Suburban Trains & Monthly Season Tickets: No change
•    Ordinary Class (up to 215 km): No change
•    Ordinary Class (beyond 215 km): 1 paisa per km increase
•    Mail/Express Non-AC: 2 paise per km increase
•    Mail/Express AC: 2 paise per km increase
•    500 km Non-AC Journey: ₹10 additional fare

Special Trains for Christmas and New Year

In preparation for the Christmas and New Year travel rush of 2025–26, Indian Railways has planned 244 special train trips across eight railway zones. The ministry said more special services may be announced in the coming days depending on passenger demand.

Special trains are being operated on high-density routes connecting major cities such as Delhi, Howrah, Lucknow, and surrounding regions to manage long-distance holiday travel.

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On the Mumbai-Goa Konkan route, daily and weekly special trains are running between Mumbai CSMT/LTT and Karmali/Madgaon, offering extra seating and sleeper capacity. Additional special services have also been introduced on routes like Mumbai-Nagpur and Pune-Sanganer, along with other key Maharashtra corridors.

According to the Railways, these arrangements are intended to reduce overcrowding, improve travel comfort, and ensure smooth connectivity to cities, beaches, and holiday destinations across the country during the festive period.