Different Types of Travel Classes in Indian Railways

At the same time, there is a very large section of India’s population, who travels in a general coach according to their status. Coaches in these categories have their own fare.  There is not only a difference in rent in these, but some basic facilities are also different.

People generally believe that there is only a difference of fare in different coaches of the railway, but it is not so. Facilities are also given separately in coaches of different categories. Learn about the variations of the Indian railways train travel classes and what kind of basic facilities are there in those coaches apart from the fare.

Types of Coaches in Indian Railways

Indian Railways uses two coach types: one is ICF (Integral Coach Factory), and the other is LHB (Link Hofmann Bush). You can travel in different types of classes in Indian railways. Learn all about the different coaches and classes of Indian Railways.

The ICF coach is a standard train coach used on Indian Railways main-route passengers trains. The ICF (Integral Coach Factory), at Perambur, Chennai, India has developed the specification for these coaches.

The LHB coaches are passenger coaches of the Indian Railways developed by Linck-Hofmann-Busch in Germany. Such coaches are designed for trains operating at 160 km/h and are capable of achieving a top speed of 200 km/h.

Types of Travel Classes in Indian Railways

Indian Railways offers various categories of travel classes based on the operating level of their trains and specific types of berths.

1) 1A – First Class AC

AC Tier-1 is the most expensive class of Indian Railways. The ticket price of 1A coach is equivalent to the fare of an aeroplane. The AC-1 coaches have eight cabins, and the half AC first-class coach has three cabins. The coach has a staff to help passengers. Beds are included with the rent. These types of air-conditioned coaches only exist on popular routes, and they can carry 10 or 18 passengers. Sleeper berths are very wide in AC Tier-1 coaches.

Related: Food delivery in all classes of trains through IndianRailway food app

2) 2A – Two-Tier AC

The tier-2 AC coach of the Indian railways is also air-conditioned with sleeping berths. It has legroom, curtains and an individual reading lamp. There are two levels of six sections in tier-2 AC coaches. Four seats are spread across the width of the coach and two seats to the side. To take care of the privacy of passengers, there is a curtain in every seat. In a broad gauge ICF coach, about 46 passengers can travel while up to 52 passengers can travel in an LHB coach.

3) 3A- Three-Tier AC

This coach is also fully air-conditioned with sleeping berths. Although the seats in 3A coach are arranged in the same manner as 2AC, it has three tiers relative to its width and has two seats, i.e. eight seats in total in one coach. You don’t get the facility of the lamp of any kind to read. Also, the cost of the bedding provided in it is included in your fare. Sixty-four passengers travel in it. In broad gauge (ICF) coaches where 72 passengers can travel.

4) 3E – Three-Tier AC (Economy)

Garib Rath Express trains have fully air-conditioned coaches with sleeping berths. The berths are usually arranged in 3A (economy).

5) EC – Executive Chair Car

This air-conditioned coach has a lot of space between the seats. There are a total of 4 seats in a row in each coach. Some of the trains where these coaches are used are Tejas Express and Shatabdi Express trains.

6) CC – Chair Car AC

CC or chair car coaches are also air-conditioned seater coaches, with only five seats in a row. Such coaches are best for day trips. Such coaches are used in Garib Rath, double-deckers and Shatabdi trains.

7) SL – Sleeper Class (Non-AC)

The sleeper class is the most common coach of Indian Railways, usually ten or more such coaches are added to a train. The coach has three berths in width and two in length, with 72 seats for passengers.

8) 2S – Second Sitting (Non-AC)

Second seating coaches are the lowest class coaches. It has seats for passengers only. A berth seats 3 passengers. It has 108 seats to sit in the LHB coach.

So, these are the travel classes in Indian trains. You can opt for any one of these as per your budget.

Also Read: Train Seat Map Layout and Coach Position Numbering in Indian Railways