(a) the criteria for allocation of ‘Second Seating General Coaches’ to Mail/Express and Super-fast trains;
(b) whether any passenger load factor survey/analysis has ever been done regarding ‘Second Seating General Coaches’ allocation to Mail/Express and Super-fast trains;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps being taken for enhancement of ‘Second Seating General Coaches’ in Mail/Express and Super-fast trains?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) To cater to the travelling needs of general class passengers, all Mail/Express trains (except fully reserved trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Humsafar, Tejas, Vande Bharat etc.) are provided with General Class coaches in their standard composition. Further, Indian Railways also operate fully unreserved services like Jan Sadharan, Janseva, Jan Nayak Express and also operate Passenger trains and Intercity services for short distance travel. In terms of the announcement made in the Railway Budget 2016-17, Indian Railways have introduced 11 pairs of Antyodaya Express, which are fully un-reserved services.
(b) to (e) Indian Railways does not undertake load factor survey/analysis. However, periodical census of passengers, including those of the unreserved class, is undertaken and subject to operational feasibility and commercial justification, the load of trains is augmented. With a view to further augment the accommodation available for general class passengers, Indian Railways, subject to operational feasibility and availability of resources, enhances the loads of existing services by attaching various variant of coaches including General Class coaches. Accordingly, during 2018-19, 123 General Class coaches, while during 2019-20 (till October, 2019), 119 General Class coaches have been attached in existing train services.
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