Overview

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a special programme to manufacture 17,000 non-air-conditioned general and sleeper coaches over the next five years.
• Non-AC stock now accounts for about 70 percent of the total 82,200-coach fleet, providing 54 lakh of the 69 lakh seats available across the network.
• In the 2024–25 financial year, Indian Railways added 1,250 general coaches, contributing to a rise in annual general-class travel from 553 crore voyages in 2022–23 to 651 crore.
• Under the updated coach composition policy, Mail and Express services will run with 12 non-AC general and sleeper coaches and eight AC coaches in each 22-coach rake.
• Dedicated non-AC Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services have also been introduced to expand high-capacity, affordable travel for lower-income passengers.