Rail Fares Hike Again: Long-Distance Travel Costlier from Dec 26, 2025

• Indian Railways to increase long-distance fares from December 26, 2025, marking the second hike in 2025.
• Fares for journeys over 215 km will rise by 1 paisa/km for Ordinary Class and 2 paise/km for Mail/Express (Non-AC/AC).
• No fare change for short-route travel (under 215 km), local trains, or Monthly Season Tickets (MST).
• The hike aims to generate ₹600 crore annually for operational costs and infrastructure development.
• Indian Railways also running 244 special trains for Christmas/New Year 2025-26 and achieved 99.1% broad gauge electrification.

Why It Matters: Long-distance rail travel gets costlier from Dec 26, 2025; short routes, local trains unaffected.