Government greets 2020 with a shocking Rail fare hike

New year brings you costlier train journeys as railways has announced fare hike with effect to 1st January 2020.

The Railways has announced a hike in passenger fare raising journey costs by 1-4 paise per kilometre in different classes.

The fare hike is also applicable to premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto

For all AC classes, the hike is 4 paise per kilometre travelled.

All non-AC classes and the unreserved segment will see a 1 paisa per kilometre hike.

On long-distance mail/express trains, the hike will be 2 paise per kilometre.

Railways has decided to keep the fares of the suburban classes unchanged.

The fare hike is also applicable to premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto, according to the order.

According to the order, there will not be any change in the reservation fee and superfast charge.

The increase in fare will be on tickets bought on or after 1 January 2020 and no excess fare (difference of fare) will be charged from passengers who have booked tickets before this date.

The hike will have no effect on the catering charges.

After today's fare hike, the journey from Delhi-Kolkata, which covers a distance of 1,447 km, the hike at the rate of 4 paise per km will be around ₹58 in AC classes on Rajdhani-type trains.

"In order to expand passenger amenities and facilities at various railway stations and trains, it has become imperative to increase the fare marginally without over burdening any class of passengers.

Fast modernization of Indian Railways will be achieved through this fare revision," the railways in a statement said.