The Indian Railways has introduced 165 new Amrit Bharat trains utilising state-of-the-art push-pull technology. This initiative, featuring non-AC general and sleeper coaches, aims to meet the growing passenger demand and alleviate the overcrowding in long-distance trains. The Government’s ambitious plan is to significantly enhance rail travel efficiency and accessibility nationwide.
To address the escalating demand for non-AC train coaches, Indian Railways has approved a comprehensive program to double the manufacturing output to approximately 10,000 coaches over the next two years. This decision comes amid increasing concerns over long waiting lists and the overcrowding of unreserved and sleeper coaches. Currently, Indian Railways operates around 55,000 non-AC coaches. The new production plan will increase this number by 18 per cent by March 2026, significantly enhancing capacity.
In the past two financial years, around 4,900 non-AC coaches were produced. The upcoming production surge will nearly double this number, enabling the national transporter to better cater to the growing passenger base.
The newly introduced Amrit Bharat trains are designed to operate at a maximum speed of 130 kilometres per hour, leveraging advanced push-pull technology. This technology involves positioning engines at the front and rear of the train, allowing for quicker acceleration and deceleration. Consequently, these trains are expected to reach their destinations two to a half hours faster than the premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains while offering more affordable fares.
The Railway Board has set an ambitious production target of 4,485 general and sleeper coaches for the financial year 2024-25. This target will increase to 5,444 in the subsequent financial year. Specifically, for Amrit Bharat trains, the current financial year will produce 1,181 general and sleeper coaches and 55 pantry cars.
The production target for the financial year 2025-26 includes 2,362 new non-AC coaches and 110 pantry cars. The remaining non-AC coaches will be incorporated into 3,500 mail-express trains, with plans to increase the number of coaches from two to four, thereby significantly enhancing their capacity.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the rapidly increasing demand for sleeper and general class travel, noting that the production of non-AC coaches will be significantly ramped up to bridge the demand-supply gap. “The journey of Amrit Bharat trains will be much better than the mail-express trains. In the future, the number of Amrit Bharat trains will increase to ensure they can run across the country,” Vaishnav stated.
The introduction of Amrit Bharat trains is part of Indian Railways’ broader initiative to improve travel experiences and meet the demands of its expanding passenger base. Focusing on non-AC coaches aims to make long-distance travel more accessible and comfortable for the average passenger, addressing longstanding overcrowding issues and limited availability.
Amrit Bharat Express represents a new category of superfast express service operated by Indian Railways. It is a non-AC, low-cost, unreserved service with sleeper class designed to connect cities over 800 kilometres apart or require more than ten hours of travel with existing services. The first Amrit Bharat train was flagged off on December 30, 2023, marking a significant milestone in this ambitious project.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has assured that the journey on Amrit Bharat trains will be significantly better than on traditional mail-express trains.
The Government’s plan to further increase the number of Amrit Bharat trains in the future underscores its dedication to providing efficient and comfortable rail services to passengers across the country.
