Train Fare Hike: Indian Railways has announced a Train Fare Hike, bringing important news for millions of passengers across the country. Long-distance train journeys are set to become slightly more expensive, directly affecting travellers commuting between Bihar and major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The revised fares will apply to Sleeper and 3AC classes, and while the increase is modest, passengers covering long distances are likely to feel the impact. The new rates are scheduled to take effect on December 26, affecting crores of rail users nationwide.
Why Passengers from Bihar Will Feel the Impact the Most?
The fare revision is expected to significantly affect passengers from Bihar, as many people travel out of the state for work, education, and medical treatment. Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad are common destinations, requiring long rail journeys from stations such as Patna, Darbhanga, and Katihar.
Due to the long distances involved, even a slight per-kilometre cost increase translates into a noticeable increase in ticket prices.
Sleeper Class Fare Increase: Route-Wise Impact
In the Sleeper class, the fare hike is roughly two paise per kilometre. For popular routes, this means:
Travel from Patna to Delhi, which is close to 1,000 kilometres, will now cost around ₹20 more.
The Patna-Mumbai journey, covering about 1,700 kilometres, will see an increase of approximately ₹34.
Passengers travelling from Patna to Bengaluru, a distance of nearly 2,150 kilometres, may have to pay about ₹43 extra for Sleeper class tickets.
3AC Tickets Also Set to Get Costlier
A significant number of passengers travelling out of Bihar also prefer 3AC for long journeys. Railways have also revised AC fares, with a two-paise per-kilometre increase, similar to the Sleeper class.
For long-distance routes, this means a 3AC ticket could cost around ₹20 more per 1,000 kilometres, making extended AC travel slightly more expensive.
What does this mean for Regular Train Travellers?
Although the fare hike is not steep, it will add to travel expenses for passengers who frequently commute between states. With the new rates taking effect on December 26, travellers are advised to factor in the revised fares when planning upcoming journeys.
