Patna: Passengers undertaking long-distance rail journeys will have to pay slightly more from Friday, after Indian Railways announced a revision in fares aimed at offsetting rising operating costs.
Under the new structure, passengers travelling more than 215 kilometres on passenger trains will pay an additional one paisa per kilometre. For those in sleeper and air-conditioned classes, the increase is set at two paise per kilometre. The railways clarified that fares for journeys shorter than 215 kilometres remain unchanged, as do rates for monthly season ticket holders.
The impact of the hike will be most noticeable on major intercity routes. On the Patna–Kolkata sector, sleeper and AC passengers will pay about Rs 10 more, while the increase for other classes will be around Rs 5. For Patna–New Delhi journeys, the additional cost rises to roughly Rs 20 in sleeper and AC classes, and Rs 10 in non-AC categories.
🚆 Train Travel Just Got Costlier
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📅 Effective immediately: New fares apply from Friday
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📏 Who pays more? Passengers travelling over 215 km
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🛏️❄️ Sleeper & AC classes: Fare increased by 2 paise per km
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🚉 Passenger trains: Hike of 1 paisa per km for long distances
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❌ No change for journeys under 215 km and monthly pass holders
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📍 Patna–Kolkata: Sleeper & AC tickets up by Rs 10
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🏙️ Patna–Delhi: Extra Rs 20 for sleeper & AC passengers
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⚡ Vande Bharat Express: Chair Car & Executive Class fares also increased
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💰 Railways’ reason: Rising operational costs
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🎯 New Year impact: Long-distance travel will pinch pockets a bit more
Revised fares show incremental changes across classes. The sleeper fare between Patna and Kolkata has risen from Rs 350 to Rs 360, while 3AC has increased from Rs 915 to Rs 925 and 2AC from Rs 1,275 to Rs 1,285. In premium services, the chair car fare on the Vande Bharat Express has gone up from Rs 1,515 to Rs 1,525, with executive class increasing by Rs 10.
On longer routes linking Patna with Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, passengers can expect increases ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 55 depending on the class of travel.
Railway officials said the revision was calibrated to minimise the burden on short-distance commuters while helping the network manage escalating fuel, maintenance and operational expenses.
