Travel Classes of Indian Railways

AC First Class (1A)

This class is the most elite travel class of Indian Railways. This class is considered as luxurious as the aeroplane’s business class. It can be seen that normally there are only 1 or 2 coaches of this travel class on a train. 

In this travel class, the 2 berth compartments are called coupes while 4 berths ones are called cabins. If two passengers are travelling together or alone then they are allotted coupe, while families or groups of friends are allocated cabins. Therefore, no tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. This class’ cabins and coupes are very spacious and carpeted. The cabins and coupes are lockable from inside. 

Facilities like washrooms and showers are available. Furnishings like sheets, towels, pillows and blankets are provided to the passengers. Also, there is an additional feature in this travel coach i.e. Attendant call button just like flights. If any passenger wants to carry his/her pet, you can by booking an additional ticket and try to book the entire coupe or cabin. 

Berth and coach numbers are allocated only at the time of chart preparation. The chart is prepared manually by Travel Ticket Examiner (TTE) 4 hours before departure. Moreover, the dynamic fare is not charged for this class. The number of berths available in this coach is around 18 to 24. 

The food for this class’ passengers is of premium quality and served on bone china cutlery. Passengers can also request special meals and à la carte food items. Sometimes, a welcome drink like Juice and Soft Drinks are served to the passengers. Meals like Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks and Dinner are served in this coach as per the duration of the journey. Food items like upma (veg), egg omelettes, cutlets (both veg and non-veg), Indian bread like Naans, Rotis, curries (both veg and non-veg) and deserts (like ice creams) are served to the passengers.

AC two-tier (2A)

This type of travel class is almost found in all long route trains. The fares for this class are slightly lesser than AC First Class. These coaches are air-conditioned, sleeping berths with curtains and individual reading lamps. Bedding like Sheets, pillows and blankets are provided in these travel classes. Washrooms are available and well-maintained in this travel class.

Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. For booking a tatkal ticket, the time of 10:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day.

In this travel class, meals facilities are optional they might or might not be included in the tickets of the passengers. Meals are prepared, packed and served by IRCTC E-Catering. Also, in this class attendants are quite attentive and fulfil passengers’ demands like extra Rotis, more curry or anything else. In short, extra food can be provided if required. Also, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options are available. Moreover, Special Trains like Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto Express provide compulsory meals as charges are included in the final fare.

The berths’ arrangements in cubicles of four (two upper berths, two lower berths) on one side of the aisle, and two above and below the windows on the other side of the aisle. The number of berths available in this coach is around 46 to 48. Following are the dimensions of all the berths available in AC two-tier:

Berth Location	Length (in cms)	Width (in cms)
Lower Berth	185	67
Upper Berth	182	64
Side Lower Berth	187	55.5
Side Upper Berth	187	55

 

AC three-tier (3A)

This travel class is slightly more crowded than AC two-tier (2A). Therefore, this travel class has less privacy because of the absence of curtains. And there are no individual reading lights. And the arrangement of berths are arranged in bays of six on one side of the aisle, and bays of two (side-upper and side-lower) on the other side of the aisle. However, berths in this travel class have three tiers of bunk berths and that are upper, middle and lower. During the day, the middle berths are folded down flat against the compartment walls to allow passengers to sit on the lower floor. Washrooms are available and well-maintained in this travel class.

Toilet facilities are available at either end of the carriage. Meals facilities are the same as AC two-tier (2nd AC). Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. The time of 10:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day is for booking a tatkal ticket. 

The number of berths available in Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Coaches is around 64 and 72 in Modern Linke Hoffmann Busch(LHB) Coaches. Following are the dimensions of all the berths available in AC three-tier:

Berth Location	Length (in cms)	Width (in cms)
Lower Berth	189.5	56
Middle Berth	192	58
Upper Berth	189	57
Side Lower Berth	166.5	55
Side Upper Berth	166.5	57.5with

 

New 3-tier AC economy class

Train Number 12403 Prayagraj- Jaipur Express, train number 12429/12430 New Delhi-Lucknow AC special and train number 12229/12230 Lucknow Mail is now running with this new 3AC Economy coach. The new AC Economy coach has 83 berths as compared to 72 berths in 3AC Coach. Also, the fare structure for this coach is 8% less than 3AC Coach. 50 new economy coaches manufactured by Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala.

The AC ducting is redesigned by providing individual vents for all berths. The modular design of seats and berths have been made to improve the comfort and reduce the weight of the coach. New passenger-friendly amenities have been provided such as foldable snack tables in both longitudinal and transverse bays, injury-free spaces and holders for water bottles and mobile phones.

The coaches have provisions for wider toilet doors and entrance doors for the specially-abled.

Individual reading lights and USB charging points are also provided for each berth. A new ergonomically improved design of ladder for accessing the middle and upper berths has been built in the coaches. There is an increased headroom in the middle and upper berths. The interiors of the coaches are equipped with visible aisle markers, illuminated berth indicators integrated with night lights, and visible berth numbers. Coaches are equipped with CCTV cameras and improved fire safety mechanisms.

Chair Cars (CC)

The coach doors open only when the train is at zero kmph and the train starts only when all the coach doors are properly closed. Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class and booking of the tatkal ticket the time is 10:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day.

And, chair car coaches have the seats’ configuration of 3+2. Also, there are automatic doors in every coach so that passengers with heavy luggage don’t have to push or pull the doors to get in and out of the coach. Like flights, there are the facilities like an attendant call button, food trays in front of the seats and luggage racks. And no bedding stuff is provided. Washrooms are available in this travel class with an availability indicator.

Meals facility is available in this travel class. Meals are served according to the duration and timing of the train. And these meals are served in plastic or disposal cutlery by IRCTC E-Catering. Charges of meals facility are included in the total fare paid by a passenger.

Executive Class (EC)

There are two executive coaches in the middle with 52 seats each, whereas non-executive coaches have 78 seats each. The seats can rotate 360 degrees and can be aligned in the direction of travel. However, this feature is only available in Executive Coaches of Vande Bharat Express. 

However, the executive class coaches have the seats’ configuration of 2+2 with adjustable headrests, arm support and leg support. There is ample space between seats and a wider middle way walkway. Also, there are automatic doors in every coach so that passengers with heavy luggage don’t have to push or pull the doors to get in and out of the coach. Like flights, there are the facilities like an attendant call button, food trays in front of the seats and luggage racks. Washrooms are available in this travel class with an availability indicator.

Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. For booking a tatkal ticket, the time of 10:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day. And no bedding stuff is provided. Meals facility is available in this travel class. Meals are served according to the duration and timing of the train. And these meals are served in glass, plastic or disposal cutlery by IRCTC E-Catering. Charges of meals facility are included in the total fare paid by a passenger.

Executive Anubhuti Class (EA)

Anubhuti coaches are coaches equipped with aircraft-like facilities. These coaches have various enhanced features when compared to executive class coaches of Shatabdi trains. These coaches have replaced AC first-class executive chair car coaches in some of the Shatabdi trains. The concept behind introducing these coaches is to give offer aircraft like facilities to the passengers on the train. The passengers will get to enjoy personal LED reading lights per seat, cushioned leg rests, entertainment screens on each seat.

Anubhuti coaches were manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The coaches have an LCD screen behind each seat for the entertainment of passengers. One can play music or watch movies with a headphone provided by the railways. Doors are automatic in Anubhuti coach that means no more pushing and pulling heavy slider doors. There is an attendant call button also available above each seat. There is a passenger information display in the middle of the coach on both sides which will display important information including next station, speed among other reasons.

Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. For booking a tatkal ticket, 10:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day is for booking. And no bedding stuff is provided. Meals facility is available in this travel class. Meals are served according to the duration and timing of the train. And these meals are served in glass, plastic or disposal cutlery by IRCTC E-Catering. Charges of meals facility are included in the total fare paid by a passenger.

Sleeper (SL)

This type of travel class is very popular among the people of our country as it comes with very reasonable prices. It has three-tier bunk berths which are upper, middle and lower.  During the day, the middle berths are folded down flat against the compartment walls to allow passengers to sit on the lower beds.

Moreover, Toilet facilities are available at either end of the carriage. However, bedding stuff like Pillow, sheets and blankets are not provided. The number of berths available in this coach is around 72. Moreover, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class and for booking a tatkal ticket time of 11:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day. This travel class is Non-AC. Washrooms are available and well-maintained in this travel class.

Second Seating (2S)

This type of travel class is the cheapest (in terms of pricing) travel class of Indian Railways. This travel class is Non-AC. This travel class has ordinary coaches that have seating arrangements on cushioned seats in 2 rows of 3 seats each or one row having 3 seats and another having 2 seats. 

Washrooms are available and well-maintained in this travel class. However, bedding stuff like pillows, sheets and blankets are not provided. The number of berths available in this coach is around 108. Moreover, Toilet facilities are available at either end of the carriage.

Also, tatkal booking is available for this type of travel class. The time of 11:00 hours in the morning previous morning of a travel day is for booking a tatkal ticket. However, there are many trains like Shramik Special Trains, Jan Sadharan Express and 200 passenger trains which have reservation facilities for this travel class. 

Luggage Allowance in Indian Railways

Class	Free Allowance (in Kgs)	Marginal Allowance (in Kgs)	Maximum Allowance (in Kgs)
AC First Class (1A)	70 Kgs	15 Kgs	150 Kgs
AC Two-tier (2A)	50 Kgs	10 Kgs	100 Kgs
AC Three-tier (3A)	40 Kgs	10 Kgs	40 Kgs
AC Chair Cars (CC)	40 Kgs	10 Kgs	40 Kgs
Sleeper (SL)	40 Kgs	10 Kgs	80 Kgs
Second Seating (2S)	35 Kgs	10 Kgs	70 Kgs

 

However, the maximum size of the trunk or suitcase that can be carried in the AC 3 tier and AC chair car (CC) compartment is 55 cms x 45 cms x 22.5 cms (length x width x height). Trunks, suitcases and boxes having outside measurements of 100 cms x 60 cms x 25 cms (length x breadth x height) will be allowed to be carried in the passenger compartments as personal luggage in AC First Class, AC 2 tier, Sleeper and Second Seating. 

According to Indian Railways new update, if the trunks, suitcases and boxes, which in outside measurement exceed any one of the dimensions, such articles are required to be booked and carried in the brake van.  The luggage of a larger dimension is to be carried only via a brake van for which the minimum charge is Rs. 30.

According to Indian Railways’ latest rule, Children who are aged five (5) years and up to twelve (12) years are allowed only half of the free allowance and the maximum allowance is 50 kgs.