India has unveiled an ambitious programme that will see an addition of seventeen thousand general and sleeper coaches, that are non-AC, to its trains all over the country in the next five years, in a bid to greatly improve and expand cheap rail travel. The move is a result of a higher demand from price-sensitive passengers demanding more general class capacity and increased comfort. The augmentation would provide for travel at low costs to millions of people (particularly those belonging to weaker sections economically) and meet the growing demand on the rail system.

Indian Railways has announced an ambitious plan to add 17,000 additional non-AC general and sleeper coaches within the next five years. This initiative marks a significant step toward enhancing the affordability and accessibility of train travel for budget-conscious passengers across the country. The move is part of a broader effort by the government to increase capacity and improve comfort for general class travelers, responding to the growing demand for affordable rail travel options.

Currently, non-AC coaches make up around 70% of the total passenger coaches in Indian Railways. This indicates a clear shift towards meeting the needs of general class passengers, who represent a significant portion of the rail network’s users. Non-AC coaches now offer 54 lakh seats, which accounts for 78% of the total seating capacity in the network, while AC coaches constitute the remaining 22%. This expansion of non-AC facilities reflects a conscious effort to prioritize the needs of the majority of passengers, particularly those in lower-income groups who rely on general class travel for their daily commute.

As part of the government’s focus on expanding general class services, 1,250 non-AC general coaches are already in use on long-distance trains during the 2024-25 financial year. This marks a critical step in the ongoing effort to make train travel more affordable for economically disadvantaged and middle-class sections of society. Indian Railways is particularly focused on providing low-cost travel options through Mail, Express, and regular passenger trains, which are essential for those who cannot afford the higher fares associated with AC travel.

In line with this commitment, Indian Railways has launched services like the non-AC Amrit Bharat Express and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. These trains offer high-quality travel experiences to a larger segment of the population, with an emphasis on improving the comfort and convenience of non-AC passengers. Such services aim to make affordable travel not only accessible but also enjoyable for the masses, particularly those in the lower-income brackets.

The introduction of these new services is accompanied by a revised policy regarding train composition. This policy aims to allocate a greater number of coaches for general and sleeper non-AC classes, providing more seating capacity for non-AC passengers. For example, in a typical 22-coach Mail/Express train, 12 coaches are now dedicated to General and Sleeper non-AC classes, while only 8 coaches are allocated to AC classes. This revised composition ensures that a larger proportion of the train’s seating capacity is available to non-AC travelers, further enhancing their travel options.

In addition to the changes in train composition, Indian Railways continues to operate non-AC unreserved trains, such as MEMU, EMU, and passenger trains. These trains, along with unreserved coaches in Mail/Express trains, cater to passengers who prefer or need to travel without a reservation. This is especially important for daily commuters and travelers who do not have the luxury of booking tickets in advance. By offering unreserved travel options, Indian Railways ensures that passengers from all walks of life have access to affordable transportation.

Passenger numbers on general and unreserved coaches have been steadily increasing. In the 2022-23 financial year, Indian Railways recorded 553 crore passengers traveling in general and unreserved coaches. This number rose to 609 crore in 2023-24 and is expected to reach 651 crore in 2024-25. This growing demand for general class travel underscores the importance of expanding non-AC services and ensuring that train travel remains a viable option for millions of people.

To meet this demand, Indian Railways has also unveiled plans to expand the fleet of Amrit Bharat trains. The railway network intends to manufacture 100 additional Amrit Bharat trains, which will further boost non-AC services. These trains are designed to cater to the needs of general class passengers by offering a modern and comfortable travel experience. Typically, each Amrit Bharat train includes 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper coaches, 1 Pantry Car, and 2 Guard Vans. The trains are also equipped with facilities for differently-abled passengers, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all travelers.

The introduction of these new trains is part of Indian Railways’ broader vision to make train travel more inclusive, accessible, and comfortable for people from all economic backgrounds. The expansion of non-AC services demonstrates a clear commitment to providing affordable and high-quality travel options for India’s economically weaker sections. It also highlights the government’s focus on improving the overall experience of general class travelers, who make up the majority of the rail network’s passengers.

India plans to add seventeen thousand non-AC general and sleeper coaches over the next five years to meet the growing demand for affordable rail travel. This expansion aims to provide increased capacity and comfort for budget-conscious passengers across the country.

To sum it all up, Indian Railways’ venture into 17,000 new non-AC coaches in the next five year will be a game-changer for cheap travel in India. The government wants to make rail travel more convenient and widen the base of the passengers by increasing the number of seats, improving the train composition and starting services like Amrit Bharat Express and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail from the existing Rail network. With more and more people travelling in general class and the demand for cheap seats increasing, the need is only highlighted. The largest system of its kind in the world, Indian Railway is driving its way forward with the motto of providing high-speed and high-tech trains for everyone.