Overview
- Official notification sets increases of 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond 215 km and 2 paise per km for non-AC Mail/Express and all AC classes.
- The revised rates apply only to tickets issued on or after December 26, with pre-booked tickets unchanged while TTE-issued tickets from that date use the new fares.
- Suburban services and season tickets see no change, and Second Class Ordinary up to 215 km remains exempt, with graded slabs of Rs 5/10/15/20 for longer ordinary trips.
- The ministry projects about Rs 600 crore in additional revenue this year, citing higher manpower costs of Rs 1.15 lakh crore, pensions of Rs 60,000 crore, and total operating costs of Rs 2.63 lakh crore.
- Illustrative impacts include roughly Rs 10 more for a 500 km non-AC journey and about Rs 15–30 extra on long routes such as Delhi–Howrah or Delhi–Mumbai, with reservation fees, surcharges and GST unchanged.