by Khushi Namdev
Indian Railways has announced the implementation of a new fare structure from December 26 onwards, which will result in a hike in passenger fares. The Railway, being India’s second largest employer, is estimated to generate revenue of Rs. 600 crore from this change.
Under the new pricing structure, passengers travelling in AC and Non-AC Mail and Express trains will pay an additional 2 paise per kilometre beyond 215 kilometres. There will be no hike for passengers travelling less than 215 kms. Meanwhile, journeys of up to 500 kms will cost an additional amount of rupees 10.
The railway ministry has not increased fares for suburban services and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) to maintain affordability for low-income and middle-class families.
The Railway Ministry also confirmed that the previous hike in July 2025 has generated a revenue of Rs. 700 crore to date.
SPECIAL TRAINS
Indian Railways has announced the functioning of special trains for the Christmas and New Year period across eight zones in 2025-26, with the addition of 244 extra trips.
These trains will operate on busy corridors such as Delhi, Lucknow, and nearby cities to accommodate long-distance passengers heading home during the Holiday Season.
The railway is also running special trains between Mumbai CSMT/ LTT to Karmali/Madgaon, offering additional seating and sleeper options on the Mumbai-Goa (Konkan) Corridor. Special services on Mumbai-Nagpur and Pune-Sangner have also been introduced to avoid overcrowding on regular trains.
INDIAN RAILWAY EXPENDITURE
Over the past decade, the railway has seen a significant expansion of its network and operations, extending services even to the most remote parts of the country. To support this expanded scale of operation and improve safety, manpower is being increased.
The national transporter has stated that higher manpower expenses will be met through increased cargo loading and limited rationalisation of passenger fares. As a result, the railways has substaintially improved safety standards and have emerged as the second largest cargo-carrying railway in the world.