Railways Charged Rs 168 Crore ‘Superfast Charge’ For Travelling On Not-So-Fast Trains: CAG

Last Updated:August 14, 2026, 09:11 IST

For the unversed, a superfast surcharge is an extra fee added by the railways to train tickets for services that maintain an average speed of 55 kmph

A superfast surcharge is an extra fee added by the railways to train tickets for services that maintain an average speed of 55 kmph | Image for representation

A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has found that the Indian Railways fetched Rs 168 crore through irregular levy and collection of “superfast surcharge” from passengers between April 2022 and March 2023.

For the unversed, a superfast surcharge is an extra fee added by the railways to train tickets for services that maintain an average speed of 55 kmph. The average speed is determined by dividing the end-to-end distance by the travel time.

According to the report, the amount was collected from passengers of over 190 trains that did not fall under the superfast train category. The matter was raised with the railways in August 2024, and the national transporter had accepted the contention, while also sharing the steps initiated to address the concerns.

“Further scrutiny of Integrated Coach Management System (ICMS) data revealed that 100 out of the 190 trains pointed out by audit are still operating (Mar 2026) with an average speed of less than 55 kmph. Despite this, the concerned zonal railways continue to levy a superfast surcharge on passengers travelling on these trains, indicating that the instructions issued (Nov 2025) by Ministry of Railways are yet to be implemented,” the CAG said in the report.

The CAG also urged the railways to revise the train schedules and ensure that only those trains that meet meet the superfast category should be declared “superfast” and charges imposed accordingly.

Key Questions Answered

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Will Railways refund the excess superfast charges collected?

The current reporting does not state whether the Railways will refund the excess superfast charges collected.

What steps will Railways take to correct train classifications?

Indian Railways accepted the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) contention regarding the illegal collection of “superfast surcharge” from slow trains and initiated steps to address the concerns.

How does this impact future train ticket pricing?

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report found that the Indian Railways illegally collected a “superfast surcharge” from passengers on trains that did not meet the speed criteria for such a charge. This could lead to a reduction in ticket prices for some routes, as the South Western Railway has already started removing this surcharge on certain trains, resulting in savings of 10 to 50 rupees per journey for passengers.

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Meemansa ShekhawatSub-editor

A Journalism graduate, Meemansa Shekhawat is a sub-editor at News18. Driven by a keen interest in news, she is a passionate writer with specialisation in national and international affairs. You can re…Read More

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