3 min readJul 30, 2026 01:45 PM IST Vande Bharat train fares: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said that Vande Bharat train fares are significantly lower than those of similar rail services in countries such as China, Japan and France. Since its launch in 2019, Indian Railways has introduced 162 Vande Bharat AC Chair Car services (82 routes) across the country. In a written statement in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said that Vande Bharat train fares have been kept affordable, with AC Chair Car fares for journeys between 300 km and 400 km averaging around Rs 2.19 per passenger km (PKM). He said this is significantly lower than the Rs 7 to Rs 20 per PKM charged for similar segment of rail services in countries such as China, Japan and France. The Union Minister further said that Indian Railways fares are among the lowest in the world and remain cheaper than those in several neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Here’s a look at how Indian Railways’ ordinary-class passenger fares compare with …