Indian Railways continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most affordable and expansive public transport systems, carrying over 720 crore passengers annually while maintaining some of the lowest passenger fares globally.
During the first nine months of FY 2025–26 (up to December 2025), Indian Railways:
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Introduced 245 new train services
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Extended 101 existing services
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Increased frequency of 8 services
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Operated approximately 65,000 special train trips
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Permanently augmented trains with 767 additional coaches
Massive Infrastructure Expansion Since 2014
Over the past eleven years (2014–2025), the Government of India has undertaken large-scale infrastructure expansion across transport sectors:
| Sector | Progress Since 2014 |
|---|---|
| National Highways | 58,232 km added |
| Railways | 35,000 km of new railway tracks |
| Airports | 90 new operational airports |
| Metro | 848 km added across 21 cities |
This expansion has significantly reshaped modal distribution patterns across the country.
70% of Coaches Are Non-AC: Focus on Affordable Travel
Indian Railways maintains a strong focus on affordability, particularly for low and middle-income passengers.
Coach Composition
| Category | Number | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-AC Coaches (General & Sleeper) | ~57,200 | ~70% |
| AC Coaches | ~25,000 | ~30% |
| Total | ~82,200 | 100% |
Additionally, Indian Railways plans to manufacture 17,000 non-AC coaches over the next five years.
Seat Distribution
| Category | Seats | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-AC Seats | ~54 lakh | ~78% |
| AC Seats | ~15 lakh | ~22% |
| Total | ~69 lakh | 100% |
Mail/Express trains typically operate with 12 General & Sleeper (non-AC) coaches and 8 AC coaches in a 22-coach composition, reinforcing the affordability focus.
Growth in Passenger Traffic
Passenger growth has shown steady recovery and expansion:
| Year | Growth (YoY) |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | ~82% (post-Covid recovery) |
| 2023–24 | ~8% |
| 2024–25 | ~6% |
General/Unreserved Passenger Growth
| Year | Passengers |
|---|---|
| 2020–21 | 99 crore |
| 2021–22 | 275 crore |
| 2022–23 | 553 crore |
| 2023–24 | 609 crore |
| 2024–25 | 651 crore |
New-Generation Train Services
Vande Bharat (Chair Car)
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164 services operational
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Indigenous design with modern amenities and advanced safety systems
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Near 100% occupancy on major routes
Vande Bharat Sleeper
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2 services operational
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Designed for long-distance premium comfort
Amrit Bharat Express
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54 fully non-AC services
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11 General + 8 Sleeper + Pantry + Divyangjan coaches
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Designed for affordability with enhanced safety and speed
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail
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4 services operational
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Focused on suburban and short-distance regional connectivity
Special Trains Surge
Special train operations have increased significantly:
| Year | Special Train Trips |
|---|---|
| 2023–24 | ~40,500 |
| 2024–25 | ~85,400 |
| 2025–26 (till Dec) | ~65,000 |
These cater to peak seasons and festivals such as Holi, Diwali, Durga Puja, Chhath, Christmas, Sabarimala and others.
Among the Lowest Fares Globally
Ordinary Class Fare Comparison (₹ per PKM)
| Country | Approx Fare | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| India | ₹0.20 | — |
| Pakistan | ₹0.54 | 2.5x higher |
| Bangladesh | ₹0.37 | 1.5x higher |
| Sri Lanka | ₹0.50 | 2.5x higher |
Semi-High-Speed (Chair Car, 300–400 km)
| Country | Approx Fare | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| India (Vande Bharat) | ₹2.19 | — |
| China | ₹7 | 3x higher |
| Japan | ₹20 | 9x higher |
| France | ₹13 | 6x higher |
₹60,466 Crore Passenger Subsidy
In 2023–24, Indian Railways provided a passenger subsidy of ₹60,466 crore, translating to:
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45% average concession
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If service cost = ₹100, ticket price ≈ ₹55
Subsidy applies to all passengers, with additional concessions for:
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4 categories of Divyangjans
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11 categories of patients
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8 categories of students
Fare Rationalisation in FY 2025–26
After a five-year gap, two calibrated fare revisions were implemented:
1 July 2025 Revision
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No increase in Second Class Ordinary up to 500 km
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0.5 paisa per PKM increase beyond 500 km
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1 paisa per PKM increase in Mail Express Non-AC
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2 paisa per PKM increase in AC classes
26 December 2025 Revision
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No increase in Second Class Ordinary up to 215 km
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1 paisa per PKM increase thereafter
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2 paisa per PKM increase in Non-AC Mail Express & AC classes
Suburban services and season tickets remain unchanged for the past 10 years.
There are no plans to introduce dynamic fares in Vande Bharat services.
Conclusion
Indian Railways continues to balance infrastructure expansion, modernization, affordability, and passenger demand management. With 70% of its coaches non-AC, expanding special train operations, large-scale coach manufacturing, and one of the world’s lowest fare structures, the national transporter remains central to India’s mobility ecosystem.
