Lok Sabha Question No. 2045 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Increase in Premium and AC Services
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sachithanantham R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2045

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026

## INCREASE IN PREMIUM AND AC SERVICES

## 2045. SHRI SACHITHANANTHAM R:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  number  of  trains  in  which  there  is  an  increase  in premium  and  AC  services  by decreasing the Sleeper Class and unreserved coaches; and
- (b)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  fare  hikes  in  Sleeper  and  Second  Class categories coupled with reduction of coaches have resulted in exclusion of the poor from rail travel and if so, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) and  (b) Indian Railways (IR) have significantly increased the facilities for  passengers  demanding  general/sleeper  class  travel.  During  the  last financial  year  2024-25  alone,  1250 general  coaches have  been  utilised  in various long-distance trains. In the current financial year (upto December,

- 2025), 767 Coaches have been utilised for permanent augmentation.

To cater to the travel demand of the low and middle income families, Indian Railways have taken up manufacturing of 17,000 non-AC coaches (general/sleeper).

On  IR,  the  percentage  of  non-AC  coaches,  is  about  70%  as  indicated below:

Table 1: Distribution of coaches:

| Non-AC coaches (general and sleeper)   | ~57,200   | ~70%   |
|----------------------------------------|-----------|--------|
| AC coaches                             | ~25,000   | ~30%   |
| Total coaches                          | ~82,200   | 100%   |

Due  to  higher  availability  of  general  coaches,  the  number  of  passengers traveling in general/ unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend as shown below:

Table 2 : Passengers in general/unreserved coaches:

| Year    | Nos. of Passengers   |
|---------|----------------------|
| 2020-21 | 99 Cr (Covid year)   |
| 2021-22 | 275 Cr (Covid year)  |
| 2022-23 | 553 Cr               |
| 2023-24 | 609 Cr               |
| 2024-25 | 651 Cr               |

The number of seats available for non-AC passengers has also increased.

The current composition is as follows:

Table 3: Distribution of seats:

| Non-AC seats   | ~ 54 lakhs   | ~ 78%   |
|----------------|--------------|---------|
| AC seats       | ~ 15 lakhs   | ~ 22%   |
| Total          | ~ 69 lakhs   | 100%    |

Moreover,  to  provide  greater  accommodation  for  the  passengers  using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches, the extant policy regarding

composition of Mail/Express trains provides for 12 (Twelve) General  class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 08 (eight) AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches,  thereby  providing  greater  accommodation  for  the  passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches.

## Amrit Bharat service:

To  provide  affordable  means  of  transportation  to  the  low  and  middle income families,  Indian  Railways    have  introduced  Amrit  Bharat  services that  are  fully  non-AC  modern  trains.  As  on  31.01.2026,  54  services  are already in operation. The present  composition of Amrit Bharat consists of 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry Car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches.

High  Speed  and  enhanced  Safety  standards  are  the  hallmarks  of  these trains with following enhanced features and amenities:

- Better aesthetics of seat and berths with enhanced look & feel on the lines of Vande Bharat Sleeper.
- Jerk Free Semi-Automatic Couplers.
- ●
- Improved Crashworthiness in coaches by provision of crash tube.
- Provision of CCTV system in all coaches and Luggage room.
- Improved designs of toilets.
- Improved design of Ladder for ease of climbing on to the berth.
- Improved LED Light fitting & Charging Sockets.
- Provision of EP assisted braking system.
- Aerosol  based  fire suppression  system  in  toilets and  electrical cubicles.
- USB Type-A and Type-C mobile charging sockets.
- Emergency  Talk  Back  system  for  two-way  communication  between Passenger and Guard/Train Manager.

- Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
- Fully  sealed  gangways  with  quick  release  mechanism  for  easy attachment and detachment.

Further,  to  cater  to  the  needs  of  passengers  desirous  of  availing unreserved accommodation, Indian Railways (IR) operate unreserved nonAC passenger trains/ MEMU / EMU etc. for affordable travel, which are in addition to the unreserved accommodation (coaches) available in Mail/Express services.

In  its  constant  endeavour  to  provide  additional  accommodation  to travelling  passengers,  during  2025-26  (up  to  December  2025)  IR  have introduced 245 trains services, extended 101 train services and frequency of 8 services have also been increased.

IR also operates Special train services during festivals, holidays, etc. to cater to the extra needs of passengers and supplement the accommodation available by regular services. In addition to the above, the load of trains are also  augmented,  both  on  a  permanent  and  temporary  basis,  to  generate additional accommodation for different segments of passengers. Accordingly,  during  Year  2025-26  (till  December  2025),  approximately 65,000  special  trains  have  been  operated  and  767  coaches  have  been utilized for augmentation of train services on a permanent basis.

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