AC Berths Double in Long-Distance Trains Over the Decade

Quick Summary:

• Over the last decade, the share of air-conditioned (AC) berths/seats in non-suburban (long-distance) trains has doubled.
• Passenger share in AC coaches has tripled during the same period, while those traveling in second class declined significantly.
• Indian Railways plans to increase AC three-tier coaches in long-distance trains due to their profitability.Reports suggest a gradual replacement of sleeper and second-class coaches with AC ones, though this has been refuted by the government.
• railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in Parliament that non-AC coach availability increased to 70%, but exact base year data remains unspecified.
• Data from Indian Railways Annual Reports show:

– Non-AC berths/seats declined from over 84% (2013) to 68% (2023), while AC berths/seats increased from around 16% to 32%.
– The most significant growth was seen in AC three-tier coaches where their share rose from about 10% to 24%.
– Sleeper coach shares slightly fell while ‘other non-AC’ coach shares reduced substantially.

• Passenger trends showed increasing preference for AC classes:

– Passengers using AC three-tier increased by over 201%, while those traveling via second class reduced by 36%.
– Sleeper passengers grew modestly at 18.6%.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The increasing prevalence of air-conditioned travel options highlights an evolution towards comfort and profitability within Indian Railways’ service strategy for long-distance trains. the reported rise in passenger preference for these facilities suggests changing aspirations among passengers-a signal that affordability is improving across demographics capable of choosing upgraded travel options. However,balancing revenue generation with affordable and inclusive travel access remains critical,notably because nearly two-thirds of available seats are still non-Air Conditioned. Ensuring robust interaction about data trends and aligning public concerns alongside infrastructure expansion could help sustain trust as well as equitable policy frameworks within India’s railway system.

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