CHENNAI: The Indian Railways' revision of passenger fares across train categories will take effect from December 26(Friday), bringing a marginal hike in prices.

Under the revised fare structure, suburban train services remain unaffected, with no increase in either second-class or first-class fares. Non-suburban ordinary first-class travel also continues at existing rates.

The revision begins to apply for ordinary second-class non-AC passengers travelling beyond 150 km, where a slab-based increase has been introduced. The hike ranges from Rs 5 for journeys between 151 km and 750 km, going up gradually to a maximum of Rs 20 for journeys exceeding 2,250 km.

Mail and Express train passengers will see a small per-kilometre increase in fares. Sleeper class and non-AC first class fares rise by one paisa per kilometre, while second class Mail/Express and all AC classes, including AC Chair car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier and AC first-class, see an increase of two paisa per kilometre. For most long-distance travellers, this translates into a modest increase of a few rupees to a few tens of rupees, depending on distance and class.

Revised fare tables will also apply to premium services such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Antyodaya and Garib Rath trains, with the overall fare structure retained and only the basic fare values updated.

The revision applies only to the basic fare. Reservation charges, superfast surcharge and other fixed levies remain unchanged, and the GST will continue as per existing rules. Fare rounding-off practices also remain the same.

Tickets already booked will also continue at pre-revised fares.

To ensure smooth implementation, Railways have instructed stations to update fare lists displayed to the public, brief frontline staff in advance, and announce the fare changes at stations. Any ticket issued on or after December 26, including those booked by travelling ticket examiners, will be charged at the revised rate.