Archive · 28 Dec 2025
Indian Railways Fare Hike and Schedule Changes
Indian Railways has increased the prices for some of its trains a little bit.
The Shatabdi Express is the cheapest for a short trip, while the Gatimaan Express is the most expensive.
The Vande Bharat train is known for being the best to travel in.
The price increase will start from December 26, 2025.
Additionally, the train schedules are changing from January 1.
New trains are being added, some trains will go to new places, and the days some trains run will change.
Passengers should check the new timings before they travel.
Indian Railways increased fares for Mail, Express, and AC classes by 2 paise per km from December 26, 2025.
Shatabdi Express is the cheapest among premium trains for a 50 km journey in AC Chair Car (₹174).
Gatimaan Express is the most expensive for the same journey (₹251).
Vande Bharat offers the best travel experience among the compared trains.
Fare hike does not apply to suburban services, Monthly Season Tickets, or ordinary class journeys up to 215 km.
South-Central Railway (SCR) will introduce a revised timetable from January 1, adding new trains and changing schedules.
Several trains have been extended to new destinations, including Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar, Jalna-Mumbai CST, and Kacheguda-Mysore.
Departure timings for 25 trains have been revised, and new Train-on-Demand services have been introduced.
- Who
- Indian Railways
- What
- Fare hike and schedule changes
- When
- Fare hike effective from December 26, 2025; Schedule changes effective from January 1
- Where
- Across India, with specific changes in South-Central Railway (SCR) network
- Why
- Fare rationalization to increase revenue and operational adjustments
- Shatabdi Express (50 km, AC Chair Car)
- ₹174
- Tejas Express (50 km, AC Chair Car)
- ₹208
- Vande Bharat (50 km, AC Chair Car)
- ₹243
- Gatimaan Express (50 km, AC Chair Car)
- ₹251
- Shatabdi Express (50 km, Executive Class)
- ₹388
- Tejas Express (50 km, Executive Class)
- ₹465
- Vande Bharat (50 km, Executive Class)
- ₹504
- Gatimaan Express (50 km, Executive Class)
- ₹562
- Fare Hike Effective Date
- December 26, 2025
- Additional Charge for Non-AC (up to 500 km)
- ₹10
- Schedule Change Effective Date
- January 1
- New Express Trains Introduced
- 6
- Extended Train Services
- Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar, Jalna-Mumbai CST, Kacheguda-Mysore
- Revised Departure Timings
- 25 trains
- Train-on-Demand Services
- Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Kacheguda to Gorakhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Agartala
Sources
Tejas vs Shatabdi vs Vande Bharat vs Gatimaan: Which premium train is cheapest in India?
Indian Railways ridership 2025: Over 693 crore passengers travelled by train till November
Train Timings To Change From Jan. 1
Train fares moved twice in 2025—how repeated hikes are burdening passengers
Railways in Punjab in 2025: big investment, new trains and revival of stalled links
