New Railway Act Amendments Hike Penalties for Travel Offenses from July 2026

Train passengers should note that several important changes have been made to the Railway Act that have come into effect under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026.

The amendments mainly focus on an increase in penalties for offences such as travelling without a valid train ticket, entering coaches reserved for women, misusing railway facilities and carrying prohibited goods. The new rules will be applicable from July, 2026, as per Times of India (ToI) report.

Passengers travelling on roofs, steps, or engines may face fines up to Rs 500 or a civil penalty of up to Rs 2,000. If the penalty is not paid, the individual may face a court punishment of up to Rs 2,000.

Instead of facing criminal charges, passengers must pay the fare plus excess costs, up to a minimum of Rs 500 or as authorised by the central government for travelling without a valid ticket or a pass. The offence has mostly been switched to a recovery-and-penalty procedure.

A guy who enters or remains in women's-only accommodation faces a Rs 2,500 fine and deportation by railway workers. Refusal to pay might result in court proceedings and a fine of up to Rs 5,000. The provision also exempts transgender persons from proceedings under this section.

Under Section 60(3), concerning travelling on roofs, steps, or engines, punishment changes from a fine (up to Rs 500) to a civil penalty up to Rs 2,000. If the penalty is not paid, the person may be produced before a court, which can impose a fine up to Rs 2,000.

Section 87(3), regarding misuse of railway accommodation/facilities, replaces the existing fine (up to Rs 150) with a penalty up to Rs 2,000, with court proceedings only if the penalty is unpaid.

For travelling without a valid ticket or pass (Section 137), instead of criminal punishment, a passenger must pay the applicable fare plus excess charges, subject to a minimum of Rs 500 or such charges as notified by the Central Government. The offence is largely shifted to a recovery-and-penalty mechanism.

Section 162 addresses entering coaches or berths reserved for women. A man entering or remaining in accommodation reserved for women is liable to a Rs 2,500 penalty and removal by railway staff. Refusal to pay can lead to court proceedings and a fine up to Rs 5,000. This provision also exempts transgender persons from proceedings under this section.