Taking note of difficulties faced by travellers during the peak summer season due to reduction in number of general and sleeper coaches, Railway Board modified its coach production programme midway in the financial year to enhance its order book. The decision is aimed at manufacturing of non air conditioned coaches to ensure availability of more number of seats for general travellers. Earlier, the Railways had orderd for production 1,171 general coaches. Post summer blues, the railways faced flak for putting common traveller in a spot, and the Railways bosses reviewed their plans and added extra general coaches in the production list. So now, for the financial year 2024-25, Railways have placed order of 2,000 coaches of LHB type as it has phased out old ICF coaches. And, in the next financial year, that is 2025-26, the sleeper coaches order stands at 1,377, and those of general second class at 242. Similarly, in sleeper category, earlier 1,147 coaches’ order was placed by the Board, and now post review, the number was adjusted to 1,030 coaches.

 

The revision was necessary taking into account the unprecedented challenges faced by the Railways in managing the surge in travellers during the peak summer season. The reason was not far to search. The decision to revamp the rake arrangement, wherein emphasis was laid on reducing the general and sleeper coaches, led to massive surge in sleeper and third air conditioned coaches. So, the summer crowd forced a rethink at the Ministry-level that resulted into tweaking the production book.

 

The programme for induction of new coaches was finalised and released at the fag end of the earlier financial year and the same was released on March 18 this year. However, it has undergone a revision on three occasions. Now, the new programme is notified as Consolidated Coach Production Programme and it’s been dated June 26, 2024. Earlier, the plan was in accordance with policy decision tak en by the Central Government wherein emphasis was on en masse migration to air conditioned coaches. The summer season this year showcased the need for more general and second sleeper coaches.

 

The hasty decision of the Railway Board forced down mass upgradation of travellers to air conditioned coaches. This, however, backfired as due to reduced number of general and second sleeper coaches in Mail/Express trains, there was unprecedented overcrowding in remaining coaches. The massive rush in sleeper coaches spilled over to 3AC as travellers scrambled for space, just to sit during their long distance journey. The videos and photographs got circulated on social media putting Railways in a tight spot as it showcased poor planning on part of mandarins of Rail Bhavan. Hence, post formation of new Government at New Delhi, a review of the reasons behind overcrowding in trains were discussed at the highest level. So, naturally the coach production programme was re-examined, the officials said. Board notified consolidated Coach Production Programme for year 2024-25 to General Managers of Coach Factories. As per the new order, ICF is going to manufacture 440 general coaches, RCF-978, MCF-582 as against earlier order of 155, 755 and 261 respectively. On sleeper coaches the new order states that ICF would provide 227, RCF-146 and MCF-657 respectively as against 227, 188 and 732 ordered earlier with the three Government owned companies. Meanwhile, Railways said it is fast tracking production of 10000 non- AC coaches during the current and next financial year. For next financial year about 1377 general sleeper coaches are going to be manufactured with ICF-439, RCF-399 and MCF-539 totalling 1377 respectively.