From July 1, 2025, Indian Railways—through IRCTC—will raise fares on long-distance passenger trains marginally. It is the first across-the-board fare hike post-COVID-19 pandemic, and it will impact AC and non-AC classes nationwide. IRCTC to Increase Ticket Prices for Passenger Trains from July 1.

IRCTC to Increase Ticket Prices

Non-AC Mail/Express trains: Hike of 1 paise per kilometre

AC class tickets: Increase of 2 paise per kilometre. This means an additional ₹1 for a 100‑km trip in AC, and a 1,000‑km AC trip would cost ₹20 extra. Even with the increase, the actual effect is minimal for most long-distance passengers.

Who’s Not Affected by the Hike?
Daily commuters and short-distance passengers will not experience any changes in fares. Specifically:

Suburban train fares unchanged

Monthly season tickets also not affected

Second-class travel between 500 km and at prevailing rates

For second-class journeys over 500 km, travellers will have to pay an extra 0.5 paise per kilometer, which translates to a mere ₹5 more on a 1,000‑km trip.

Why the Fare Hike Now?
Railway authorities blame the increase for rising operational expenses such as power, fuel, maintenance, and inflation-based costs after the last hike. No significant capital outlay is directly related to the increase, but the hike is viewed as a measure to maintain service quality intact.

The increase in the ticket price is part of a planned fares and concessions overhaul, which has already been supported by some IRCTC initiatives like mandatory Aadhaar authentication for Tatkal tickets—launched June 2025—to promote fair access and limit fraud.

The increase will be very slight for the average passenger—a few rupees increase per trip. However, regular long-distance travellers will see it more over time. Importantly, there is no expected impact for the daily commuter paying fares on suburban services or travelling with a monthly pass.

ALSO READ: IRCTC New Rule: Waiting List Limited to 25% of Total Berths

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