ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways (PR) on Monday announced a 5% increase in fares for all express and local passenger trains. The new fares will take effect from February 5, 2025.
According to railway officials, the fare hike is due to rising diesel prices and increased operational costs. A notification issued on Monday stated, “Pakistan Railways has rationalized its passenger fares. A 5% fare increase will be implemented across all train classes, including outsourced trains and saloon services, effective from February 5, 2025.”
The notification has been sent to all operational chiefs (divisional superintendents) of Lahore, Karachi, Sukkur, Multan, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Quetta divisions for implementation.
Implementation and Compliance;
- The PR’s IT director has been directed to ensure the new fares are applied to advance bookings.
- Divisional superintendents (DSs) must ensure updated fare tables are displayed at all stations and reservation offices.
- All booking and reservation offices, as well as station staff, are required to adopt the new rates immediately.
- Any discrepancies must be reported to the chief marketing manager and IT director through the divisional commercial officer (DCO) within seven days. Failure to report issues will result in accountability for the concerned staff.
Reason for Train Fare Increase;
A PR spokesperson explained that the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has risen multiple times from October last year to February this year. Despite the increased operational costs, PR absorbed the expenses without passing them on to passengers. However, the continued rise in costs has now forced the administration to adjust fares to meet operational expenses.
The spokesperson added that PR aims to minimize the financial burden on passengers and is working to increase income through freight, land, and other sectors.
Railway New Refund Policy Announced;
On the other hand, Pakistan Railways has also introduced a new refund policy for train tickets, including those purchased through the “Rabta” app. Key details of the policy are:
- Passengers can get a 90% refund if they cancel tickets 48 hours before departure.
- An 80% refund will be given for cancellations made 24 to 48 hours before departure.
- A 70% refund is available for cancellations made within 24 hours of departure.
- If a ticket is canceled within 2 hours after the train’s departure, a 50% refund will be given.
- Full refunds will be issued if the train is delayed by 6 hours or more.
ALSO READ
ISPR releases new song for Kashmir Solidarity Day 2025, sung by Ahmed Jehanzeb
Conditions for Pakistan Railways Online, Offline Train Tickets;
- Tickets bought at railway counters can only be refunded at the same counter. Passengers must provide the original ticket and a copy of their ID card for refunds.
- Online tickets will only be refunded through the same online service used for booking.
- The refund policy for online tickets is the same as for counter tickets.
- No refunds will be given for online tickets after the train’s departure.
- If the train is less than 1 hour and 30 minutes away from departure, a 50% refund will be given for online tickets.
Has Pakistan Railways Increased Fares?
Yes, Pakistan Railways has increased fares by 5% due to a rise in petroleum product prices. The new fares will be effective from Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
