New Delhi | June 30, 2025: Starting July 1, 2025, train journeys across India are set to become slightly more expensive—at least for long-distance travelers. In its first fare revision since 2020, Indian Railways has announced an increase in second-class and AC ticket fares, while also unveiling a series of digital reforms and security measures aimed at streamlining operations and reducing fraud.
What’s Changing in Fares?
The fare hike will mostly affect long-distance travelers:
- Second-class non-AC passengers will now pay 1 paisa more per kilometer.
- AC-class passengers, including Sleeper, 3AC, 2AC, and 1AC, will pay 2 paisa more per kilometer.
- Passengers traveling up to 500 kilometers will not see any fare hike.
This nominal increase means that for a journey of 1,000 kilometers in AC class, the fare will rise by ₹20. The Ministry of Railways clarified that the fare hike has been introduced to keep pace with rising operational costs, without burdening short-distance or suburban travelers.
Who’s Not Affected?
In a relief for daily commuters, fares for Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) and suburban trains will remain unchanged. The government aims to ensure that working-class and urban travelers are not impacted by the revision.
Also, there will be no changes to:
- Reservation fees
- Superfast train surcharges
New Tatkal Ticket Rules: Aadhaar Verification is Mandatory
One of the most significant changes comes in the form of Tatkal ticket booking reforms. From July 1, passengers must complete Aadhaar verification on the IRCTC website or mobile app to book a Tatkal ticket.
Further tightening begins on July 15, when OTP-based Aadhaar authentication will be compulsory during Tatkal bookings.
Railway officials say this move is aimed at:
- Curbing fraudulent bookings
- Improving transparency
- Ensuring genuine passengers get access to last-minute tickets
Reservation Chart to be Prepared 8 Hours Before Departure
In a major passenger-friendly move, Indian Railways will now prepare the final reservation chart 8 hours before train departure, instead of the earlier 4-hour window.
This will benefit waitlisted passengers, giving them more time to plan alternate travel options in case their tickets don’t get confirmed. The change is currently being implemented as a pilot project on select routes, with a full-scale rollout expected based on results.
Biggest Digital Upgrade: PRS System to Be Overhauled
Railways is also preparing for one of its most ambitious technological upgrades in years. By December 2025, a completely new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) will be introduced, developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).
What’s new in the system?
- Capacity to process 1.5 lakh tickets per minute, compared to the current 32,000.
- Enhanced ability to handle peak-hour traffic without glitches.
- Faster and more secure ticketing operations.
This will not only reduce downtime during bookings but also help manage festive-season and emergency bookings more efficiently.
Why This Matters: A Balance Between Modernization and Accessibility
Indian Railways, the lifeline of the nation, serves over 2 crore passengers daily. While minor fare hikes are often unavoidable due to inflation and rising operational costs, the latest changes appear to be part of a broader digital transformation strategy.
From improved reservation systems to stricter Tatkal authentication, and early chart preparation, the railways is signaling a shift toward passenger convenience and accountability.
Railway Board officials noted that these changes reflect the government’s vision of a modern, digitally-empowered railway network, without disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable commuters.
Come July 1, Indian Railways will look and feel a little different—slightly costlier for long-haul travelers, but a lot smarter and secure. For passengers, the key lies in staying updated with the latest rules, verifying Aadhaar in advance for Tatkal tickets, and adapting to the new reservation timelines.
