Railway Rules Change: If you travel by train, then it is important to know the recent changes of Indian Railways. The most important change in this is the increase in passenger fare for the first time in 5 years.
However, these changes are not limited to just the increase in fare, but will also completely affect aspects like Tatkal booking, waiting list, reservation chart and booking agents.
These will affect every railway passenger. Whether he is in Sleeper class or AC, travels daily or occasionally. Let us know about those 5 major changes of railways, which have been implemented recently or are going to be implemented soon, and know how these will change your journey.
Train fares will increase from July 1
Indian Railways is going to increase passenger fares in long distance mail and express trains from July 1, 2025. Under this amendment, the fare will be increased by 1 paisa per kilometer in non-AC class and 2 paisa per kilometer in AC class. This change will be applicable on long distance trains across the country.
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According to the Railway Ministry, there has been no change in the fares of sub-urban trains and monthly season tickets (MST). However, ordinary second class passengers will have to pay the old fares if they travel up to 500 km. An increase of 0.5 paisa per kilometer will be applicable for distances more than 500 km.
Aadhaar is mandatory for Tatkal booking
Railways has also made a big change in the process of booking tickets under the Tatkal scheme. According to the new instructions of the Railways, from July 1, 2025, Tatkal tickets will be issued through IRCTC website or app only to those passengers who have completed Aadhaar-based verification .
The Railway Ministry has described this step as an important reform taken to prevent misuse of the Tatkal scheme and give priority to genuine passengers. Its purpose is to improve transparency, security and customer experience.
Agents are put under control in Tatkal booking
Agents can also book tatkal tickets, but they have to wait a little longer than the general passengers. For example, if the tatkal booking for AC class starts at 9 am, then agents will have to wait till 9:30 am to book the ticket.
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Similarly, booking for sleeper class opens at 10 am, but agents can book it only from 10:30 am. The purpose of this rule is that common passengers get a chance to book tickets first and they do not miss out on tickets because of agents.
Big change in railway reservation chart
If you have booked a waiting ticket and keep wondering till the last moment whether the ticket will be confirmed or not, then now there is a good news. Railways is testing a new rule, under which the reservation chart will be prepared 24 hours before the departure of the train. When this system is implemented, passengers will be able to know a day in advance whether their ticket is confirmed or not.
At present, the railways prepare the reservation chart about four hours before the departure of the train. In such a situation, passengers on the waiting list remain confused till the last moment. Many times, in this confusion, the passengers make other arrangements and the ticket gets confirmed at the last moment. Sometimes the opposite also happens. But, after changing the rules, we will get rid of this problem.
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The rules for waiting list have also changed
Railways has taken an important decision to fix the maximum limit of waiting tickets in long distance trains, which has come into effect from June 16, 2025.
According to the instructions of the Railway Board, now the number of waiting tickets in sleeper, third AC (3AC), second AC (2AC) and first AC (1AC) coaches has been limited to a maximum of 25% of the total berths. Railways has made this change to reduce overcrowding and chaos in trains.
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