New Delhi: Indian Railways is continuously improving its services. As part of this effort, the railways have introduced Amrit Bharat II Express trains. According to the Railway Board, the new Amrit Bharat Express trains will be launched from January 2026 onwards. The new version of the Amrit Bharat Express will offer affordable and safe long-distance travel with modern passenger-friendly amenities.
This train service could be convenient for people during the upcoming summer holidays. The railways have also released the fares for this inter-state train service and have discontinued the RAC ticket system.
According to reports, the fares for the new Amrit Bharat trains will be different. The railways have set a minimum distance of 200 kilometers for Sleeper Class and 50 kilometers for Second Class. However, the basic fare for the new Amrit Bharat trains will be the same as the Amrit Bharat Express trains launched before January 2026.
According to the railways, the basic fare for the Sleeper Class of the Amrit Bharat train is Rs 149 for a journey up to 200 km and the Second Class fare is Rs 36 for a journey up to 50 km.
In a letter to all Principal Chief Commercial Managers on January 15, 2026, the Railway Board stated, “Other charges such as reservation charges, superfast surcharge, etc., wherever applicable, will be levied separately. Fares will be rounded off as per existing rules.”
No RAC Tickets Issued
The Railway Board has also changed the ticketing rules for the new Amrit Bharat trains. Now, RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) tickets will not be issued for Sleeper Class. However, unreserved Second Class tickets will be issued as per existing rules. The Railway Board said, “There will be no provision for RAC tickets. For unreserved Second Class, tickets will be issued as per existing rules. All berths will be available from the day of Advance Reservation Period (ARP).”
Lower Berth Policy
The general rules for children’s fares will apply to the new Amrit Bharat trains. According to the Railway Board, in the sleeper class, if a passenger is traveling with a child who does not require a separate berth, the system will allocate a lower berth whenever possible. Similarly, for male passengers aged 60 years and above and female passengers aged 45 years and above, the system will automatically attempt to allocate a lower berth based on availability and rules.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the country’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train from Malda in West Bengal and also inaugurated four new Amrit Bharat Express trains. These non-AC trains will benefit passengers in several states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
New Amrit Bharat Train Routes:
Alipurduar – Bengaluru
Alipurduar – Panvel (Mumbai)
New Jalpaiguri – Nagercoil
New Jalpaiguri – Tiruchirappalli
