Latest news with #AmritBharatExpress
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
Non-AC Coaches In Indian Railways Increase To 70% With Focus On Poor
New Delhi: The percentage of non-AC coaches in trains run by Indian Railways has significantly increased to about 70 per cent, and a special manufacturing programme is being implemented to produce an additional 17,000 non-AC general and sleeper coaches over the next 5 years, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday. Indian Railways have significantly increased the facilities for passengers demanding general class travel. During the last financial year 2024-25 alone, 1,250 general coaches have been utilised in various long-distance trains. Indian Railways continues to run a large number of trains with affordable fare structures, including Mail, Express and passenger trains, for the benefit of the general public including the poor and lower middle class. Indian Railways has introduced non-AC Amrit Bharat services and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services, providing high quality services to a larger section of the population, particularly lower income groups, the minister said. Indian Railways has also provisioned for production of another 100 Amrit Bharat Trains, he added. Vaishnaw highlighted that due to higher availability of general coaches, the number of passengers travelling in general/unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend, going up from 553 crore in 2022-23 to 609 crore in 2023-24 and 651 crore in 2024-25. The number of seats available for non-AC passengers has now gone up to 54 lakh which constitutes 78 per cent of the total while AC seats comprise the remaining 22 per cent. 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 General class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 8 AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches, thereby providing greater accommodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches, Vaishnaw explained. Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing unreserved accommodation, Indian Railways 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. Development of Amrit Bharat Express trains, manufacturing of MEMU trains, and increasing the share of general coaches clearly shows that Indian Railways is catering effectively to the demand for travel in general class, the minister further stated. Indian Railways has introduced fully non-AC Amrit Bharat trains, presently comprising 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 1 Pantry car and 2 Second class cum Luggage cum Guard Van & Disabled Friendly Compartment. These trains have been designed and manufactured to cater to the needs of the general public by providing world-class modern and comfortable rail travel experience to passengers of the non-AC segment.g (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Non-AC coaches in Indian Railways increase to 70 pc with focus on poor
New Delhi: The percentage of non-AC coaches in trains run by Indian Railways has significantly increased to about 70 per cent, and a special manufacturing programme is being implemented to produce an additional 17,000 non-AC general and sleeper coaches over the next 5 years, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday. Indian Railways have significantly increased the facilities for passengers demanding general class travel. During the last financial year 2024-25 alone, 1,250 general coaches have been utilised in various long-distance trains. Indian Railways continues to run a large number of trains with affordable fare structures, including Mail, Express and passenger trains, for the benefit of the general public including the poor and lower middle class. Indian Railways has introduced non-AC Amrit Bharat services and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services, providing high quality services to a larger section of the population, particularly lower income groups, the minister said. Indian Railways has also provisioned for production of another 100 Amrit Bharat Trains, he added. Vaishnaw highlighted that due to higher availability of general coaches, the number of passengers travelling in general/unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend, going up from 553 crore in 2022-23 to 609 crore in 2023-24 and 651 crore in 2024-25. The number of seats available for non-AC passengers has now gone up to 54 lakh which constitutes 78 per cent of the total while AC seats comprise the remaining 22 per cent. 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 General class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 8 AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches, thereby providing greater accommodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper Coaches, Vaishnaw explained. Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing unreserved accommodation, Indian Railways 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. Development of Amrit Bharat Express trains, manufacturing of MEMU trains, and increasing the share of general coaches clearly shows that Indian Railways is catering effectively to the demand for travel in general class, the minister further stated. Indian Railways has introduced fully non-AC Amrit Bharat trains, presently comprising 11 General Class coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 1 Pantry car and 2 Second class cum Luggage cum Guard Van & Disabled Friendly Compartment. These trains have been designed and manufactured to cater to the needs of the general public by providing world-class modern and comfortable rail travel experience to passengers of the non-AC segment.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
651 crore people travelled by general coaches last year: Indian Railways
BENGALURU: Viral videos of jam-packed trains and crammed unreserved compartments may have sparked fears that Indian Railways is prioritising air-conditioned luxury over affordable travel. But official data tells a different tale: In 2024–25, a staggering 651 crore passengers travelled by general coaches, marking a 17 per cent surge compared to 2022–23. Far from shrinking, general and unreserved travel is booming, reveals railway ministry's latest data while reflecting a growing dependence on budget rail travel by the country's low- and middle-income families. In 2023-24, the passenger count in the general coaches (unreserved coaches) added to 609 crore. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru According to a statement by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Rajya Sabha, the surge in general class travel has been accompanied by a notable policy shift in coach allocation. Non-AC coaches, which include general and sleeper class, now make up 70 percent of the total coach fleet, numbering approximately 57,200 out of 82,200. The number of available seats reflects a similar trend, with non-AC seats accounting for 54 lakh (78 per cent) of the total 69 lakh seats. To meet this growing demand, the Railways introduced 1,250 general coaches in long-distance trains during 2024–25 alone, the minister said and added that the fleet was being augmented with the deployment of Amrit Bharat Express, a fully non-AC modern train with advanced features such as semi-automatic couplers, sliding windows, mobile holders, and foldable snack tables. So far, 14 Amrit Bharat trains have been introduced, each comprising 8 sleeper and 11 general coaches. Further, the extant policy on Mail/Express trains mandates 22 coaches per rake, including 12 general (non-AC) and 8 AC coaches, underscoring the government's priority towards affordable mass transport. The ministry is also executing a special manufacturing program for 17,000 additional non-AC coaches over the next five years, he said. The increase in general coach usage is also being supported by the augmentation of MEMU and EMU services, which offer additional unreserved travel options beyond mail/express trains. With regard to the videos of packed compartments, a senior railway official described it as an 'occurrence during peak season'. 'Special trains are deployed to meet the rush, especially during festive holidays. About 13,500 special train trips were operated last year to meet the demand, the official added.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
How many passengers travelled in general coaches in last 5 financial years? Indian Railways data reveals
Indian Railways Passenger Traffic Data: Indian Railways (IR) plays a crucial role in the economic development of the country. In recent years, Railways have significantly increased the facilities for passengers demanding travelling on general and non-AC coaches. According to a report, the percentage of non-AC coaches has increased to about 70%. Out of the total 82,200 coaches, 57,200 are non-AC, while the remaining 25,000 are AC coaches. During the last financial year 2024-25 alone, 1250 general coaches have been augmented in various long-distance trains. But have you ever wondered how many passengers actually travel in general coaches despite this huge demand? The latest numbers might just surprise you. During the ongoing Monsoon Session, Lok Sabha MPs S Jothimani and Sachithanantham R asked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to provide details on the number of passengers who travelled in unreserved coaches over the last five financial years, ending on March 31, 2025. Responding to this, Vaishnaw said that 2187 crore passengers have travelled by general or unreserved coaches in the last five financial years (i.e. FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25). (Source: As per written reply submitted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on July 23, 2025 in Lok Sabha) The Union Minister also stated that 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.' The newly introduced Amrit Bharat Express train, a fully non-AC modern train, comprise 8 Sleeper Class coaches and 11 General Class coaches. Indian Railways is executing a special manufacturing programme for 17,000 non-AC general/sleeper coaches over the next five years. Anish Mondal is a business journalist with over nine years of experience. He writes on diverse subjects such as Infrastructure, Railways, Roadways, Aviation, Politics, Market, Parliamentary affairs, Corporate earnings, General and International news etc. ... Read More
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Patna-New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express set to run from July 31
Patna: The railways is all set to introduce regular service of the Amrit Bharat Express between Rajendra Nagar Terminal and New Delhi starting July 31, aiming to provide a more affordable travel option for passengers. The new train will cover a distance of 998km in 18 hours, offering a longer yet cheaper alternative to the premier Rajdhani Express and Sampoorna Kranti Express, both of which complete the trip in 12 hours and 30 minutes. While the Amrit Bharat Express lacks air-conditioned coaches and modern amenities offered by its faster counterparts, it is expected to attract budget-conscious passengers due to its marginally lower fares. However, with a travel time that is six hours longer, many passengers may hesitate before choosing this option for a long-distance journey to the national capital, Bihar Daily Passenger Association general secretary Shoaib Quraishi said, adding that the train will leave Rajendra Nagar Terminal at 7.45pm and reach New Delhi the next day at 1.10pm. Despite the extended travel time, the Amrit Bharat has a clear edge over other non-premier trains like the Magadh Express and Shramjeevi Express, which take around 20 hours and 30 minutes to complete the journey on the same route. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Thus, Amrit Bharat Express will have preference from a middle-class common passenger who would cover their journey from Patna to New Delhi in Rs 560 per passenger, sources said. According to a Danapur railway official, Amrit Bharat Express is designed for mass transit, focusing on providing safe and cost-effective transportation for the common passengers. "The train is part of the broader Amrit Bharat initiative to expand rail connectivity and accessibility across the country in the days to come at an affordable fare especially during festive period, the official said, adding that the Rajendra Nagar Terminal-New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express will have a load composition of 22 coaches having 559 berths in the sleeper class and 1,100 seats in general coaches.
