Patna: Passengers travelling from Patna and across Bihar are set to benefit from cheaper rail tickets after Indian Railways moved to withdraw the “superfast” surcharge from trains that fail to meet prescribed speed standards.
The decision, issued by the Railway Board and implemented by the East Central Railway, removes the additional fee typically charged on trains classified as superfast. The move is expected to reduce fares by Rs 15 to Rs 75 per ticket, depending on the class of travel.
Railway officials said the change was aimed at addressing a long-standing discrepancy between classification and performance. Under existing rules, trains must maintain an average speed of at least 55km/h to qualify as superfast. However, many services labelled as such were operating below this threshold, prompting concerns that passengers were being charged higher fares without receiving faster journeys.
Among the trains affected are the Vibhuti Express, Upasana Express, Kumbh Express and Himgiri Express, all of which will now run without the superfast designation.
Fare reductions will vary across categories. General class passengers are expected to save around Rs 15, while sleeper class fares could fall by about Rs 30. Travellers in AC-3 and AC-2 coaches may see reductions of roughly Rs 45, with smaller cuts in AC first class. Overall, ticket prices are likely to drop by between 5% and 12%.
The move follows scrutiny from a parliamentary committee, which recently raised concerns over trains on major routes – including Delhi-Howrah and Jammu services – being classified as superfast despite not meeting speed requirements. The panel argued that levying higher charges in such cases was unjustified.
In response, Indian Railways has launched a nationwide review of around 900 trains across its 17 zones. Authorities are assessing whether services should be upgraded to meet superfast criteria or reclassified to reflect their actual performance.
While some experts suggest that removing the superfast tag could lead to minor timetable adjustments and slightly longer journey times, railway officials say the immediate priority is ensuring transparency and fairness in pricing.
The decision is expected to particularly benefit regular and budget-conscious travellers, who will no longer pay additional charges for services that do not deliver faster travel. Officials say the move also signals a broader push towards accountability, with the potential for improved service standards in the future.
