The Indian Railways has announced a major policy change that will require all long-distance mail and express trains to have at least four general (non-AC) coaches and six to eight sleeper coaches. The decision aims to provide relief to millions of poor and middle-class passengers who struggle with overcrowded compartments during their daily journeys.
24-Coach Standard Rakes to Be Deployed Across Network
The railway board will soon implement new composition standards for approximately 3,200 long-distance mail and express trains. All trains will be converted to 24-coach LHB standard rakes. This expansion will enable an additional 32 to 36 crore passengers to travel comfortably every year across the country.
Current Shortage and Production Drive
A railway board official said most trains currently have only 18 to 22 coaches with just four to six sleeper and two to three general compartments. Production of non-AC coaches is now on a war footing to meet the growing demand. In FY 2025-26 and 2026-27, a total of 9,640 new non-AC coaches will be manufactured, including 5,455 general and 4,185 sleeper coaches. Of these, 4,838 coaches have already been produced, with 2,817 general and 2,021 sleeper coaches ready for deployment.
Priority Trains and Key Routes
Additional coaches will be added immediately on busy routes such as Vaishali Express, Shramjeevi Express, Bihar Sampark Kranti, Purushottam Express, Magadh Express, and Awadh-Assam Express. Passengers traveling home from Delhi, Surat, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Chennai will see significant relief from waiting lists during festive seasons like Holi, Diwali, and Chhath.
Delhi Division Boosts Parcel Capacity
The Delhi division of Northern Railways has also increased SLR leasing from 164 in August 2025 to 175 in August 2026, marking a 6.71 percent growth. This expansion in parcel transport capacity will support faster goods movement across the northern region. The railways continues to focus on improving travel conditions for all sections of society.
