Indian Railways will implement fare increases for second class (general) passengers starting July 1, 2025. This marks the first hike in passenger fares in five years, with the last adjustment occurring in 2020. Railway officials state this is also the smallest fare increase implemented in the past 12 years.
Alongside the fare changes, several new provisions will take effect on July 1. One key update is the introduction of Aadhaar-based booking for the ‘Tatkal’ (immediate) quota. Passengers booking under this quota will now need to provide their Aadhaar details at the time of reservation.
What’s Changing for Second Class Passengers?
The fare increase applies specifically to long-distance travel and is structured as follows:
- Second Class: Passengers traveling over 500 kilometers in second class will pay an additional ₹0.005 (half a paisa) per kilometer for the distance beyond 500 km.
- AC Classes: The increase for AC classes will be ₹0.02 (two paise) per kilometer.
- Mail/Express Trains: A flat increase of ₹0.01 (one paisa) per kilometer will apply for travel in Mail or Express trains.
Exemptions from the Hike:
- Monthly Season Tickets (MST): These tickets, offering unlimited travel between two fixed stations for a month, remain unaffected. They are a cost-effective option for regular commuters on specific routes.
- Suburban Rail Fares: Fares for trains covering short distances up to 150 kilometers are unchanged.
Railways clarified that tickets booked before July 1, 2025, will not be subject to the new rates.
Historical Context of Previous Hikes:
A senior railway official told Moneycontrol that prior to 2020, the last significant fare revision across all categories happened in 2013:
- Ordinary Trains: Second class fares increased by ₹0.02 per km.
- Mail/Express Trains: Fares increased by ₹0.04 per km.
- Sleeper Class: Fares saw a ₹0.06 per km hike.
- AC Classes: Fares were increased by ₹0.10 per km.
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