There is good news for rail passengers. Railways (Indian Railways) has issued an order to reduce the fare of AC-3 economy class. Along with this, it has also been decided to give sheets and blankets as before. This order has come into effect from March 22. For passengers who have bought tickets online or booked over the counter, the Railways will refund the remaining amount after deducting the fare.
Railways had earlier issued an order bringing the ticket price of AC 3-tier economy class at par with the price of AC 3-tier. With the present order, the Railways has withdrawn its earlier order. The cost of providing sheets and blankets was cited as the reason for equating the price of AC 3-tier economy class and AC 3-tier. Earlier, bed sheets and blankets were not provided in AC 3-tier economy class.
AC 3-tier economy class started in September 2021
Railways started AC 3-tier economy class in September 2021. It was announced at that time that the ticket price for AC 3-tier economy class would be 6-8 per cent less as compared to the ticket for normal AC 3 coach. Railways described it as the cheapest and best AC class service in the world. Prior to the November 2022 order, passengers could buy AC 3 economy class tickets by choosing the category “3E”.
Difference between AC3 Coach and AC3 Economy Coach
The total number of seats in the normal AC3 coach is 72. Whereas, AC3 Economy has 80 seats. AC3 economy seats are slim and compact as compared to the seats of normal AC3 coaches. Passengers get more space in normal AC3 coach as compared to AC3 economy. At present there are 463 AC 3 economy coaches as against 11,277 normal AC 3 coaches. Railways earned Rs 231 crore from AC 3-tier economy class in the first year of its launch. From April-August 2022, 15 lakh people traveled in these coaches, earning Rs 177 crore.
