Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament that passenger fares in Indian Railways are not considered a “trade secret” and are widely available in the public domain.
The minister stated that fare details for all categories of passenger services are transparently published through various platforms including ticketing systems, fare tables, and railway mobile applications.
The statement was made in response to questions in the Lok Sabha.
PASSENGER FARES CONTINUE TO BE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED
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According to the Railway Ministry, Indian Railways provided a subsidy of 60,239 crore on passenger tickets during the financial year 2024–25.
This translates to an average concession of 43% per passenger. In practical terms, if the cost of providing a rail service is 100, passengers pay around 57 for the ticket.
The subsidy applies to all travellers, while additional concessions continue for specific categories, including persons with disabilities (Divyangjans), certain patient groups, and students.
TRANSPARENCY IN FARE STRUCTURE
Railways said it ensures transparency by displaying the complete fare breakup on passenger tickets.
The fare structure typically includes components such as:
These details are available through the Passenger Reservation System, Unreserved Ticketing System, and mobile applications such as RailOne.
Information about fare revisions or rationalisation is also publicly announced whenever changes are made.
SPECIAL BERTH ALLOCATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND WOMEN
To improve accessibility and convenience, Indian Railways has introduced priority lower berth allocation for several passenger categories, including:
These passengers may automatically receive lower berths even if they have not selected the preference during booking, subject to availability.
Railways has also earmarked dedicated quotas of lower berths in different classes, including Sleeper, 3AC, and 2AC coaches.
RESERVATION QUOTAS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Special reservation quotas have also been allocated for passengers with disabilities and their attendants in mail and express trains, including premium services such as Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi Express.
The allocation includes:
Four seats in reserved second sitting or AC chair car classes where available
Vacant lower berths during journeys are also prioritised for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, or pregnant women who were initially allotted middle or upper berths.
VANDE BHARAT SLEEPER SERVICE INTRODUCED IN 2026
The first Vande Bharat Sleeper Express service Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper Express (27575/27576) was introduced on January 22, 2026.
The train features modern coaches with enhanced passenger comfort and safety technologies, including:
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KAVACH train protection system
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Semi-permanent jerk-free couplers
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CCTV surveillance in all coaches
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Sealed gangways
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Emergency talk-back units
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Centralised coach monitoring systems
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Improved fire safety standards
VANDE BHARAT SLEEPER FARES LOWER THAN GLOBAL COUNTERPARTS
Railways stated that Vande Bharat Sleeper fares are calculated on a per passenger per kilometre (PKM) basis.
For 3AC class, the base rate is 2.40 per kilometre (excluding GST). For example, a journey of 1,000 km costs about 2,400, excluding GST.
The overall fare range for the service varies between 2.40 and 3.80 per PKM, depending on the class and distance.
According to the government, this is significantly cheaper than similar high-speed rail services in countries such as China, Japan, and France, where fares range between 7 and 20 per PKM.
RAILWAYS FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE TRAVEL
The ministry reiterated that Indian Railways aims to balance affordability with financial sustainability while determining passenger fares.
Fare structures take into account multiple factors such as operating costs, competition from other transport modes, passenger affordability, and service quality.
At the same time, the railway network continues to operate a range of train categories, from low-cost passenger services to premium trains, to meet the needs of different sections of society.
– Ends
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
