Railways Overhauls Amrit Bharat Express Fare System for 2026 Launch
The Railway Board has announced significant revisions to the fare structure of the Amrit Bharat Express trains. These changes will take effect when the new Amrit Bharat II Express services begin operations across Indian Railways in January 2026.
New Minimum Distance Charges for Passengers
According to the updated policy, Sleeper class travelers will now pay for a minimum distance of 200 kilometers. Second class passengers face a lower threshold of 50 kilometers. The basic fare rates themselves remain unchanged from the previous Amrit Bharat Express model.
The Sleeper class fare stays fixed at Rs 149 for journeys up to 200 km. Second class travel costs Rs 36 for distances up to 50 km. Additional charges like reservation fees and superfast surcharges will apply separately as per existing rules.
Elimination of RAC Tickets in Sleeper Class
In a major shift, the Railway Board has completely removed the Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) option for Sleeper class. This means passengers can no longer book RAC tickets for these trains. However, unreserved Second class tickets will continue under current provisions.
All available berths will be released from the first day of the Advance Reservation Period. This change aims to simplify the booking process and reduce confusion.
Limited Quota System Implemented
The revised structure allows only three specific quotas in Sleeper class:
- Ladies quota
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD) quota
- Senior Citizen quota
No other reservation quotas will apply to these trains. Railway employees' Duty Pass eligibility remains consistent with Mail/Express train standards.
Berth Allocation and Refund Policies
The system will attempt to automatically assign lower berths to certain passenger groups when available. This includes male travelers aged 60 years and above and female passengers aged 45 years and above. Parents traveling with children not requiring separate berths may also receive lower berth priority.
Normal child fare rules continue to apply across all classes.
For refunds, the Railway Board mandates digital payments for reserved tickets to enable faster processing. Refunds should initiate within 24 hours of cancellation when tickets are purchased digitally. Window purchases should preferably use digital methods, though cash payments remain possible with standard refund terms.
The Railway Board communicated these changes through a letter dated January 15, 2026, to all Principal Chief Commercial Managers. The Amrit Bharat Express, introduced in 2023, represents Indian Railways' push toward affordable, modern long-distance travel with enhanced passenger amenities.
