What is included in a railway ticket fare?

A railway ticket fare includes the base fare calculated per kilometre for the chosen class, the superfast surcharge if the train is a Superfast category, reservation fee of about 15 to 40 rupees depending on the class, and service charges for tickets booked through the counter. For online bookings IRCTC adds a convenience fee of approximately 15 to 30 rupees per ticket for non-AC classes and 30 to 50 rupees for AC classes. Meals are included in the fare for Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto trains. Bedding charges are included for AC classes. GST and other applicable taxes may also be included in the final fare.