14.2% fare hike happened because for past 10 yrs railway fare had not increased but fuel prices increased considerably. So if Railways were allowed to increase fare by 1.42% per yr from 2004, then today just 1.42% fare hike would have 2 b done. It's just that the railways fare had not increased in 10 yrs -- this fare hike is feeling steep. I want 2 ask the political parties which r against this hike that why they didn't allow railways fare 2 b hiked by 1.42% per yr in the last ten years? They should know that The service of IR in 2004 was far more better than 2014 as IR had faced steepest lost in % in the last 10 yrs, resulting in Indian Railways turn in shambles, TOTAL SHAMBLES.