Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that 17,000 non-AC general and sleeper class coaches will be added to the Indian Railways fleet over the next five years, boosting capacity and comfort for millions of budget-conscious travelers.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw emphasized that non-AC coaches already form around 70% of Indian Railways’ 82,200-coach fleet—roughly 57,200 coaches, compared to 25,000 AC bogies. “Railways has significantly increased the facilities for passengers demanding general class travel,” the Minister said.
Growth in General Class Travel
The rise in non-AC infrastructure is in response to surging demand in general and unreserved compartments. According to the Railway Ministry:
- 1,250 new general coaches were added to long-distance trains in FY 2024-25 alone
- 4,193 crore passengers travelled in Indian Railways between 2018-19 and 2024-25
- Unreserved travel has boomed post-COVID, with
- 553 crore passengers in 2022-23
- 609 crore in 2023-24
- 651 crore in 2024-25
- 553 crore passengers in 2022-23
The number of daily passenger trains has also increased—from 13,169 in 2019-20 to 13,940 in 2024-25, expanding network accessibility.
More Seats for the Masses
Of the 69 lakh total train seats available across India:
- 54 lakh (78%) are non-AC
- 15 lakh (22%) are AC
This shift underscores Indian Railways’ focus on affordability, catering to a large section of travelers who depend on economical mobility for work, education, and essential travel.
What’s Next?
The 17,000 new coaches are part of a special manufacturing programme, set to roll out gradually across the Indian Railways network. This expansion is expected to:
- Reduce overcrowding in unreserved coaches
- Improve travel conditions for general and sleeper class passengers
- Strengthen regional and long-distance connectivity in tier 2 and rural belts
The move reinforces the government’s ongoing “Railways for All” push, aiming to modernize infrastructure without sidelining low-income passengers.
