Railway Board Adjusts Coach Production to Address Summer Travel Issues
The Railway Board has revised its coach production program midway through the financial year to tackle challenges faced by travelers during peak summer seasons. Originally slated to produce 1,171 general coaches, the Board has now increased the order to 2,000 coaches. This decision aims to enhance seating capacity for non-AC coaches, responding to widespread criticism over reduced availability.
Following a surge in passenger numbers during summer, particularly in sleeper and general classes, the Railway Board undertook a review of its initial plans. The revised production schedule, named the Consolidated Coach Production Programme, was released on June 26, 2024, replacing earlier versions that emphasized a shift to air-conditioned coaches.
Under the updated program, ICF (Integral Coach Factory) will manufacture 440 general coaches, while RCF (Rail Coach Factory) and MCF (Modern Coach Factory) will produce 978 and 582 coaches respectively. This represents a significant increase from previous orders of 155, 755, and 261 coaches for these categories.
For sleeper coaches, the new orders include 227 from ICF, 146 from RCF, and 657 from MCF, contrasting with earlier figures of 227, 188, and 732 coaches respectively. Looking ahead to the next financial year, plans are in place to manufacture 1,377 sleeper coaches, with ICF, RCF, and MCF slated to produce 439, 399, and 539 coaches respectively.
The Railway Board's decision follows public outcry and social media backlash over overcrowding and insufficient seating in Mail/Express trains due to a shortage of general and sleeper coaches. This move is part of broader efforts to streamline production and meet the growing demand for affordable and comfortable travel options across the railway network.
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