Introducing the Economy AC-3 Class, with 3-tiered side berths

Remember rail coaches with three-tiered side berths? First tried in AC-3 and Sleeper coaches during Lalu Prasad’s term as Railway Minister and withdrawn after a public outcry, these coaches are set to return as the Railways launch a new class of AC travel — the Economy AC-3 — on its Duronto non-stop superfast trains.

The first of the Durontos, to be flagged off between Sealdah and Delhi on September 18, will have five Economy AC-3 coaches in addition to one AC-1, three AC-2 and four AC-3 coaches. This fully air-conditioned biweekly train is to cover the 1,454 km distance between Sealdah and Delhi in 16-and-half hours, one-and-half hours less than a Rajdhani on the same route.

The Railways are positioning the Economy AC-3 as a new AC Class, offering travel at fares lesser than the normal AC-3. The extra berths are being squeezed in to increase coach capacity from 64 to 72 berths — it will, however, reduce the comfort level. A ticket in Economy AC-3 may cost up to Rs 50 less than an AC-3 ticket.

From the pages of Indian Express

indianachu - 06