Railways to manufacture 10,000 general and sleeper coaches in two years

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, July 25: To enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways will manufacture 10,000 general and sleeper coaches over the next two years. Additionally, disabled coaches, parcel vans, SLR (for guards and disabled), and pantry cars will also be produced. This initiative, approved by the Railway Board, aims to provide better facilities for non-air-conditioned class passengers. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the plan includes producing 2,605 general coaches and 1,470 sleeper coaches, along with 323 SLRs and 55 pantry cars.

The focus on increasing the number of general and sleeper coaches comes after continuous removal of these coaches from long-distance trains, which had raised concerns from the Passenger Facilitation Committee. An order has been issued to increase general and sleeper coaches in 11 pairs of long-distance trains, to be implemented between October and December.

Amrit Bharat Train initiative

The Railways is undertaking a significant construction project for 1,230 LHB coaches intended for the Amrit Bharat train, which will facilitate operations on routes from Howrah via Tatanagar to Mumbai. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance affordable travel options for low-income passengers, particularly addressing issues that arose from replacing sleeper coaches with AC coaches. Additionally, the Chakradharpur Railway Division will see the replacement of 25,500 sleepers, with an approved upgrade of the signal system from Ghatshila to Chandil. Repairs will also be carried out at 22 loading points across Jharkhand and Odisha districts.

In line with these improvements, the Railways plans to manufacture 10,000 general and sleeper coaches over the next two years. This move aims to increase non-AC class facilities, thus benefiting low-income passengers. The focus on upgrading infrastructure and expanding coach availability underscores the Railways’ commitment to improving travel conditions and ensuring more accessible and affordable train services.