**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of Railways to Unstarred Question No. 2045 in Lok Sabha, scheduled for February 11, 2026. The question concerns the increase in premium and AC services, potential fare hikes in Sleeper and Second Class categories, and their impact on affordability for the poor. The Minister details efforts to augment general/sleeper class travel and highlights the introduction of new services.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Coach and Seat Augmentation:**
* Indian Railways (IR) has increased facilities for general/sleeper class passengers.
* 1250 general coaches utilized in long-distance trains in FY 2024-25.
* 767 coaches utilized for permanent augmentation up to December 2025.
* IR is manufacturing 17,000 non-AC (general/sleeper) coaches.
* **Coach and Seat Distribution (Current):**
* Approximately 70% of coaches are non-AC (~57,200 coaches), 30% are AC (~25,000 coaches), totalling ~82,200 coaches.
* Approximately 78% of seats are non-AC (~54 lakhs), 22% are AC (~15 lakhs), totalling ~69 lakhs seats.
* **Passenger Numbers:**
* Increase in passengers traveling in general/unreserved coaches.
* Passenger numbers in general/unreserved coaches:
* 2020-21: 99 Cr
* 2021-22: 275 Cr
* 2022-23: 553 Cr
* 2023-24: 609 Cr
* 2024-25: 651 Cr
* **Train Composition and Services:**
* Mail/Express trains provide 12 non-AC and 8 AC coaches in a train of 22 coaches.
* Introduced Amrit Bharat services: fully non-AC modern trains.
* As of 31.01.2026, 54 Amrit Bharat services are operational.
* Composition: 11 General, 8 Sleeper, 1 Pantry Car, 2 Luggage/Divyangjan coaches.
* **Amrit Bharat Enhanced Features:**
* Improved aesthetics, jerk-free couplers, crashworthiness, CCTV, toilet designs, ladder design, LED lighting, EP assisted braking, fire suppression, USB charging, emergency talk-back.
* Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
* Fully sealed gangways.
* **Additional Services:**
* IR operates unreserved non-AC trains (MEMU/EMU) for affordable travel.
* In 2025-26 (up to December 2025), 245 new train services introduced, 101 extended, and frequency of 8 increased.
* Operates special train services during festivals and holidays.
* Load of trains is augmented permanently and temporarily.
* In 2025-26 (till December 2025), ~65,000 special trains operated and 767 coaches used for augmentation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Passengers Demanding General/Sleeper Class Travel:**
* **Impact:** Increased availability of coaches and seats in general/sleeper class, leading to greater travel options. Introduction of Amrit Bharat services offers affordable transportation.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the augmented general/sleeper class services.
**Low and Middle Income Families:**
* **Impact:** Access to affordable transportation through Amrit Bharat services and the availability of non-AC coaches.
* **Action Required:** Utilize Amrit Bharat services for affordable travel.
**General Public/Traveling Passengers:**
* **Impact:** Greater availability of special train services during peak seasons and enhanced amenities and safety features in trains.
* **Action Required:** Utilize additional accommodation options and new amenities.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways (IR): The primary subject of the document, responsible for railway operations and policies mentioned in the context.
Amrit Bharat service: A fully non-AC modern train service introduced by Indian Railways for affordable transportation.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry overseeing the operations of the Indian Railways, responsible for the question being answered.
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:
--/2-
§-2-
Table 1: Distribution of coaches:
Non-AC coaches (general and ~57,200 ~70%
sleeper)
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
--/3--3-
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.
-/4--4-
● 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 non-
AC 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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