Rail Minister Clarifies Fare Structure for Special Trains in Lok Sabha

Rail Minister's Response on Special Train Fares

On Wednesday, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the fares for special trains with reserved seating are higher compared to regular scheduled trains. This written response was in reply to questions raised by Congress MP Sanjana Jatav regarding the fare structure of special trains and the methods used to determine these fares. The MP also sought information on the number of trains that have transitioned from special to regular service over the past three years.

Vaishnaw emphasized that Indian Railways is continually striving to meet the growing needs of passengers. This includes launching new services, expanding existing train services, increasing their frequency, and adding more coaches to current trains. He stated, “Additionally, the capacity (load) of existing train services is also enhanced.”

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These ongoing processes depend on operational viability, resource availability, and competitive demands, among other factors.” Regarding fares, Vaishnaw noted that the fare for fully unreserved second-class special trains is equivalent to that of regular unreserved second-class trains. He added, “However, the fares for special trains with reserved seating are higher than those of regular scheduled trains.” Vaishnaw also mentioned the concessions available to passengers, revealing that Indian Railways provided a subsidy of ₹60,239 crores on passenger tickets during the fiscal year 2024-25.