New express trains with only AC coaches

October 12, 2020 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

The reason for this move is that IRCTC is planning to upgrade its network. It should be noted that the move to keep only AC coaches does not apply to all trains. Trains running slower than 130kmph will continue to have the typical sleeper coaches.

Indian Railways is making many innovative moves. They are now planning to release new express trains which will have only AC coaches. These trains will run at speeds exceeding 130 kmph. The railways is planning to slowly phase out normal sleeper coaches in these trains.

Furthermore, the railways is set on finishing the upgradation of Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah paths so that they can launch trains that go upwards of 160 kmph. They intend to finish the upgrades by December 2023.

According to some sources, the Railways has been planning these moves for quite some time. However, recently with the finalization of zero-based time table for future trains, their plans have picked up traction.

The Railway Ministry says that the tickets for these trains would still be affordable for people. Officials say that AC coaches became a technical necessity for trains going over the speed of 130 kmph. Trains running at 110 kmph will still have non-AC coaches.

They aim to keep the price affordable while increasing the comfort and features in trains and also cut down on the travel time.

The railways is currently designing a coach with 83 berths. They are aiming to make 100 such coaches this year and 200 in the next year.

Officials said that the ticket price of the new AC coaches will be somewhere between 3rd AC and sleeper class so they can remain affordable to most people. They have more berths compared to sleeper class’ 72, but the number of berths in a coupe will remain the same. Furthermore, there will not be an extra middle berth between the side upper and side lower berths.

Image Credit: Prateek Karandikar / CC BY-SA 4.0