Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Railways addresses a query regarding the reduction of Sleeper Class (SL) coaches in Tamil Nadu-bound trains. It clarifies that while the number of general coaches has increased, the overall composition of coaches aims to provide greater accommodation for general and non-AC Sleeper Class passengers. The Ministry highlights initiatives such as the introduction of Amrit Bharat Express and increased manufacturing of non-AC coaches to cater to low and middle-income travelers. The information provided pertains to the financial year 2024-25 and plans for the next 5 years.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Overall Coach Distribution:**
* Non-AC coaches (general and sleeper) constitute approximately 70% of total coaches.
* AC coaches constitute approximately 30% of total coaches.
* **Passenger Trends:**
* The number of passengers traveling in general unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend from 99 Cr in 2020-21 to 651 Cr in 2024-25.
* **Southern Railway (Tamil Nadu):**
* Holds approximately 5,300 coaches for train operations as of 01.04.2025.
* Around 1400 are AC coaches (26%).
* Around 3900 are non-AC coaches (74%).
* In 2024-25, Southern Railway added 167 unreserved coaches to 132 Mail/Express trains, replacing 138 AC coaches and 29 sleeper coaches.
* **Train Composition Policy:**
* The policy for Mail/Express trains allows for 12 general/sleeper non-AC coaches and 8 AC coaches in a 22-coach train.
* **Amrit Bharat Express:**
* Currently, 14 Amrit Bharat Express services are operational.
* Each train comprises 8 Sleeper Class and 11 General Class coaches with modern features.
* **Additional Measures:**
* Indian Railways operates unreserved passenger trains (MEMU/EMU) to provide affordable travel options.
* A special manufacturing program for 17,000 non-AC general/sleeper coaches is planned over the next 5 years.
Impact Analysis:
* **Railway Passengers (General/Sleeper Class):**
* Impact: Increased availability of general and non-AC sleeper coaches, potentially improving affordability and accessibility of train travel.
* Action Required: No specific action required; passengers may benefit from the increased availability of non-AC travel options.
* **Railway Passengers (AC Class):**
* Impact: Possible reduction in the number of AC coaches on some trains.
* Action Required: No specific action required, but passengers may need to consider alternative travel options if AC coach availability decreases on certain routes.
* **Indian Railways:**
* Impact: Must manage the manufacturing and deployment of new coaches and adjust train compositions according to the policy and demand.
* Action Required: Execute the manufacturing program for 17,000 non-AC coaches, monitor passenger demand, and adjust train compositions accordingly.
Key Entities Referenced
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, responsible for answering the question in the Lok Sabha.
Southern Railway: A zone of Indian Railways that primarily serves the State of Tamil Nadu, with data provided on its coach holdings.
Amrit Bharat Express: A fully non-AC modern train developed by Indian Railways with advanced features, intended for affordable travel.
MEMU/EMU: Unreserved non-AC passenger trains operated by Indian Railways for affordable travel.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding the reduction of sleeper class coaches was raised.
Mail/Express trains: A category of trains in India with a composition policy of 12 General class/Sleeper class (non-AC) coaches and 8 AC coaches in a 22 coach train.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where the reduction in Sleeper Class coaches is being addressed in the question.
Indian Railways (IR): The national railway system of India, responsible for train operations and policies mentioned in the document.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1735
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF SLEEPER CLASS COACHES IN TAMIL NADU
1735. DR. GANAPATHY RAJKUMAR P:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that many number of
Sleeper Class (SL) coaches has been reduced in many trains running
across Tamil Nadu;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with reasons for reducing SL coaches in
many trains;
(c) whether the Government has received any representations from railway
passengers' associations to add more SL coaches in these trains for the
convenience of middle-class families and common people; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) 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.
On IR, the percentage of non-AC coaches, is about 70% as indicated
below:Table 1: Distribution of coaches:
Coach type No. of Coaches Percentgage
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 No. 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
over the years. The current composition is as follows:
Table 3: Distribution of seats:
Seat Type No. of seats Percentage
Non-AC seats ~ 54 lakhs ~ 78%
AC seats ~ 15 lakhs ~ 22%
Total ~ 69 lakhs 100%Further, as the Railway network straddles across State boundaries, trains
are operated/augmented, as per network requirement, across such
boundaries.
As on 01.04.2025, the total number of coaches held, for trains operations,
by Southern Railway (which primarily serves the State of Tamil Nadu), has
a holding of around 5,300 coaches for train operations, of which around
1400 coahces ( i.e. 26%) coaches are AC while 3900 (i.e.74%) coaches are
non-AC coaches (General and Sleeper).
During 2024-25, Southern Railway has attached 167 un-reserved class
coaches in 132 Mail/Express trains by replacing 138 AC coaches and 29
sleeper coaches for the convenience of common people.
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.
Railways have developed a fully non-AC modern train named as Amrit
Bharat express. Presently, 14 Amrit Bharat services are in operation.
These modern trains have advanced features like Semi-Permanent
couplers for jerk free travel, horizontal sliding windows, foldable snack
tables and bottle holders, mobile holders etc. These trains comprise 8
Sleeper Class coaches and 11 General Class coaches.
Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing
unreservedaccommodation, Indian Railways (IR) operate unreserved non-
AC passenger trains/ MEMU / EMU etc. for affordable travel, which are inaddition to the unreserved accommodation (coaches) available in
Mail/Express services.
By introducing Amrit Bharat Express trains, manufacturing of MEMU
trains, and by executing a special manufacturing programme for 17,000
non-AC general/sleeper coaches over the next 5 years, Indian Railways is
committed to effectively cater to the travel demand of the low and middle
income families who prefer to travel by Railways as an affordable means
of transportation.
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