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Railways announces fare hike: Train passengers will have to pay slightly higher fares for long-distance journeys starting December 26, as Indian Railways moves to revise its fare structure to offset rising operational costs while keeping the burden on travellers to a minimum.

Under the revised structure, passengers travelling more than 215 kilometres in the general class will pay an additional one paise per kilometre. For non-AC categories of mail and express trains, fares will increase by two paise per kilometre, while AC class fares will also see a hike of two paise per kilometre.

Railway officials said the increase would have a limited impact on passengers. For instance, a non-AC traveller undertaking a 500-kilometre journey will have to pay only ₹10 more.

The Railways clarified that there will be no fare hike for suburban services and monthly season tickets (MSTs). Passengers travelling up to 215 kilometres in the general class will also not be affected by the revision.

According to estimates, the fare rationalisation is expected to generate around ₹600 crore in additional revenue during the current financial year.

Railway officials pointed out that the move comes amid a significant expansion of the railway network and operations over the past decade. To meet growing operational and safety requirements, the Railways has increased its workforce, pushing manpower costs to ₹1.15 lakh crore, while pension expenditure has risen to ₹60,000 crore. The total operational cost of Indian Railways in 2024–25 has reached ₹2.63 lakh crore.

To manage these rising expenses, the Railways is focusing on boosting freight earnings and implementing limited fare rationalisation. Officials said sustained investments in safety and efficiency have helped India emerge as the world’s second-largest freight-carrying railway system.

During the recent festive season, the Railways successfully operated over 12,000 special trains to accommodate the surge in passenger demand, officials added.

With IANS Inputs