Long-distance train fares increase; Discontent among passengers
Mumbai | July 1, 2025 – Indian Railways has finally imposed a fare hike on passengers. From today, i.e. from July 1, the fares of mail, express and premium trains have been increased. According to the Railways, this increase is ‘minor’ and it has been revealed that this was necessary due to improvement works. However, passenger organizations have strongly opposed this decision.
📌 How much increase on what?
• AC Class (AC Chair Car, AC-3, AC-2, Executive Class) – 2 paise per kilometer increase
• Sleeper and First Class – 0.5 paise per kilometer increase
• Non-AC Mail/Express – 1 paise per kilometer increase
A relief for general passengers is that there has been no fare hike for journeys between 0 and 500 km.
🛤️ On which journeys will this increase be applicable?
• This fare hike will be applicable on all long-distance mail/express trains including premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Tejas, Amrit Bharat.
• This hike will not be applicable on local trains in suburban areas like Mumbai, monthly passes, as well as general tickets up to 500 km in length.
🎟️ Railways’ clarification on already booked tickets
The Railways has clarified that the new rates will not be levied on tickets booked before July 1. Therefore, those who have already booked tickets for travel will not have to pay any additional amount due to this.
📈 How much will the government benefit?
According to the Railway Ministry’s estimates, this fare hike can generate an additional revenue of ₹700 crore to ₹900 crore annually. The Railways says that this amount will help in development projects running at the current speed of the railways.
📣 Passenger opposition, political criticism
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has demanded that the central government immediately withdraw the fare hike. Passenger organizations have also condemned the decision, saying, “Raising fares without improving services is injustice to passengers.”
AIADMK, Shiv Sena (Th.), as well as railway workers’ unions have warned the government that this decision will have an adverse impact on ordinary passengers.
🚆 Passenger reactions
Vijay Waghmare, a daily commuter from Mumbai to Pune for work, said, “The travel expenses are already increasing every month, now the fare hike will create even more problems.”
While Shreya Thackeray, a college student from Nagpur, said, “It is worrying that the government has directly increased the fares without considering concessions.”
The decision to increase the fares taken by the Indian Railways is affecting long-distance passengers. On the one hand, the government says that this decision is necessary for reforms and revenue, on the other hand, common citizens, passenger organizations and some political parties are opposing this increased fare. It will be interesting to see whether the government withdraws this increase in the future.