Indian Railways to increase general coaches to make trains more accessible to economically weaker sections

GUWAHATI, Dec 12: Indian Railways is taking several steps to ensure comfortable journeys for general-class passengers. As part of its commitment towards providing better services and accommodating the increasing passenger demands, Railways has introduced over 1,914 new non-AC coaches to 635 rakes of various trains.

This initiative enables approximately 1 lakh additional passengers to travel in general coaches daily, demonstrating the Railways’ focus on inclusivity and convenience. Further, 384 EMU rakes and 185 MEMU rakes were operated resulting into capacity enhancement for 72 lakhs passengers, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in Parliament.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is also playing a vital role in this initiative, contributing to the Indian Railways’ success. Currently, NFR has already augmented 39 trains with 292 general coaches, providing greater convenience and accessibility to passengers across and beyond its zone. These efforts underline NFR’s dedication towards improving passenger services and making train journeys more comfortable and inclusive for all segments of the society.

Recognizing the growing public interest in rail travel, Indian Railways is accelerating its efforts by expanding its fleet by augmenting non-AC coaches to its trains along with EMU and MEMU trains. While speaking in Parliament, the Union Railways Minister emphasized the balanced focus on both economically weaker and others by maintaining a ratio of 2:3 for non-AC coaches and 1:3 for AC coaches.

To meet the growing demand for general coaches, a special manufacturing program has been launched, aiming to produce 12,000 general coaches. This ambitious expansion will enable approximately around 8 lakh additional passengers to undertake rail journeys daily, significantly enhancing accessibility for general-class travelers.

These newly manufactured coaches are of the advanced LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) design, offering greater comfort, speed, and safety. LHB coaches are not only lighter and sturdier but also sustain minimal damage in case of accidents, ensuring improved passenger safety compared to traditional ICF coaches.

Further, the induction of the Amrit Bharat train series has been designed entirely for non-AC passengers. Equipped with cutting-edge technology similar to Vande Bharat trains, these trains offer a noise and jerk-free travel experience.

Plans are underway to produce 50 additional Amrit Bharat trains after the successful operation of the initial fleet over the past ten months.

NF Railway, on its part, remains steadfast in its commitment to prioritizing the needs of general-class passengers thus improving travel experiences within the zone and nationwide. The ongoing expansion of facilities reflects its vision to transform rail travel into a safer, more convenient, and inclusive mode of
transportation for all, a release issued by NF Railway CPRO Kapinjan Kishore Sharma stated.