No extra charge for train tickets booked earlier:Higher train fares from tomorrow; 1-2 paise extra per kilometre

Indian Railways has clarified that passengers who booked tickets before December 26 will not have to pay any extra charges, even if they travel after this date. On December 21, Railways announced a fare increase for long-distance travel starting from December 26. Speaking to the media, Dilip Kumar, Executive Director (Information and Publicity) of the Railway Board, said that tickets issued by TTEs on trains or at stations on or after December 26 will be charged at the higher fare. Higher fares begin from December 26 The revised railway fares will come into effect from December 26. Passengers travelling more than 215 kilometres will have to pay an extra 1 to 2 paise per kilometre. Railways estimates that the fare hike will bring in an additional ₹600 crore each year. There is no change in fares for passengers travelling less than 215 kilometres or for monthly season ticket holders. Relief for short journeys and season ticket holders Railways has given relief to millions of passengers who travel short distances. Fares for journeys under 215 kilometres remain unchanged, keeping short-distance travel affordable. Daily commuters will also benefit, as there is no increase in fares for suburban (local) trains or Monthly Season Tickets (MST). This means passengers in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai will not face any extra burden. Reason for the fare increase According to sources in the Ministry of Railways, the fare increase is needed to meet rising operating costs and to support infrastructure development. Railways is working to improve services, introduce new trains and modernise stations. The extra ₹600 crore generated from the fare hike will be used for these purposes. As the country’s second-largest employer, maintaining the vast railway network involves high costs. Second fare increase this year Earlier this year, on July 1, train fares were also increased. At that time, fares for non-AC Mail and Express trains went up by 1 paise per kilometre, while AC fares increased by 2 paise per kilometre. Before that, passenger fares were last revised in 2020. ​