651 crore people travelled by general coaches last year: Indian Railways
Indian Railways
is prioritising air-conditioned luxury over affordable travel.
But official data tells a different tale: In 2024–25, a staggering 651 crore passengers travelled by general coaches, marking a 17 per cent surge compared to 2022–23.
Far from shrinking, general and unreserved travel is booming, reveals railway ministry's latest data while reflecting a growing dependence on budget rail travel by the country's low- and middle-income families. In 2023-24, the passenger count in the general coaches (unreserved coaches) added to 609 crore.
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According to a statement by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Rajya Sabha, the surge in general class travel has been accompanied by a notable policy shift in coach allocation.
Non-AC coaches, which include general and sleeper class, now make up 70 percent of the total coach fleet, numbering approximately 57,200 out of 82,200. The number of available seats reflects a similar trend, with non-AC seats accounting for 54 lakh (78 per cent) of the total 69 lakh seats.
To meet this growing demand, the Railways introduced 1,250 general coaches in long-distance trains during 2024–25 alone, the minister said and added that the fleet was being augmented with the deployment of Amrit Bharat Express, a fully non-AC modern train with advanced features such as semi-automatic couplers, sliding windows, mobile holders, and foldable snack tables.
So far, 14 Amrit Bharat trains have been introduced, each comprising 8 sleeper and 11 general coaches.
Further, the extant policy on Mail/Express trains mandates 22 coaches per rake, including 12 general (non-AC) and 8 AC coaches, underscoring the government's priority towards affordable mass transport.
The ministry is also executing a special manufacturing program for 17,000 additional non-AC coaches over the next five years, he said. The increase in general coach usage is also being supported by the augmentation of MEMU and EMU services, which offer additional unreserved travel options beyond mail/express trains.
With regard to the videos of packed compartments, a senior railway official described it as an 'occurrence during peak season'. 'Special trains are deployed to meet the rush, especially during festive holidays. About 13,500 special train trips were operated last year to meet the demand, the official added.
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