Railway Fare Hike from July 1, 2025: Long-Distance & AC Travel to Get Costlier – New Rates & Booking Rules

Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways is set to implement a fare hike, affecting long-distance travelers, AC class passengers, and Mail/Express train users. This marks the third fare revision in 11 years, with the last increase occurring in January 2020. While suburban and monthly season ticket fares remain unchanged, the new rates will impact millions of daily passengers.

Proposed Fare Hike Breakdown

According to Railway Ministry sources, the revised fare structure includes:

• AC Class Travel: 2 paise per km increase
• Mail/Express (Non-AC) Trains: 1 paise per km hike
• Second Class (Ordinary) Travel Beyond 500 km: 0.5 paise per km additional charge
• No Change: Suburban trains & monthly passes

The hike is expected to most affect long-distance travelers, particularly those in AC coaches. The Railways justifies the increase by citing rising operational costs—while the actual travel cost per km is ₹1.38, passengers currently pay only 73 paise, implying a 47% subsidy.

How to Check Updated Train Fares Online?

Passengers can verify the new fares via the Indian Railways official website:

1. Visit https://www.indianrail.gov.in
2. Enter train number, journey date, source & destination stations
3. Select class (Sleeper, AC, etc.) & quota (General, Tatkal, etc.)
4. Click “Get Fare” to view updated pricing

New Tatkal Booking Rules (Effective July 1, 2025)

To curb misuse, Aadhaar authentication will be mandatory for online Tatkal bookings:

• From July 1: Tatkal tickets on IRCTC will require Aadhaar-linked accounts
• From July 15: Aadhaar OTP verification compulsory for all online Tatkal bookings
• PRS Counters & Agents: OTP authentication via registered mobile number
• Agents Blocked for First 30 Minutes:
  • AC Classes: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
  • Non-AC Classes: 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

How to Authenticate IRCTC Account with Aadhaar?

1. Log in to IRCTC website/app
2. Go to “My Account” → “Authenticate User”
3. Complete verification

Step-by-Step Online Ticket Booking Guide

1. Register/Log in on IRCTC
2. Enter journey details (stations, date, class)
3. Select train & check fare
4. Fill passenger details (name, age, berth preference)
5. Choose payment method (UPI, cards, net banking)
6. Confirm booking & download ticket

Final Thoughts

While the fare hike is modest, frequent travelers—especially in AC and long-distance routes—will feel the pinch. The new Tatkal rules aim to reduce fraud, but passengers must link Aadhaar early to avoid booking delays.