3rd AC Becomes Indian Railways Top Revenue Earner
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

3rd AC Becomes Indian Railways Top Revenue Earner

Indian Railways has witnessed a remarkable surge in 3rd AC travel, with passenger numbers and revenue skyrocketing post-Covid, surpassing sleeper class for the first time in history. The shift underscores a growing preference for comfort, hygiene, and affordability among train travelers.

Key Trends Driving the Shift Unprecedented Growth in 3rd AC Passengers: In 2019-20, only 110 million passengers (1.4% of total travelers) opted for 3rd AC. By 2024-25, this number soared to 26 crore, marking a 19% rise.

Revenue Surge: Indian Railways’ earnings from 3rd AC ticket sales have jumped from Rs 123 billion in 2019-20 to Rs 300 billion in 2024-25, outpacing sleeper class as the top revenue generator.

Changing Passenger Preferences: Post-pandemic, travelers are prioritising cleaner and more comfortable travel options, leading to a mass migration from sleeper class to 3rd AC.

The data reflects a transformative shift in train travel habits, with 3rd AC emerging as the new standard for long-distance rail journeys in India.

Indian Railways has witnessed a remarkable surge in 3rd AC travel, with passenger numbers and revenue skyrocketing post-Covid, surpassing sleeper class for the first time in history. The shift underscores a growing preference for comfort, hygiene, and affordability among train travelers. Key Trends Driving the Shift Unprecedented Growth in 3rd AC Passengers: In 2019-20, only 110 million passengers (1.4% of total travelers) opted for 3rd AC. By 2024-25, this number soared to 26 crore, marking a 19% rise. Revenue Surge: Indian Railways’ earnings from 3rd AC ticket sales have jumped from Rs 123 billion in 2019-20 to Rs 300 billion in 2024-25, outpacing sleeper class as the top revenue generator. Changing Passenger Preferences: Post-pandemic, travelers are prioritising cleaner and more comfortable travel options, leading to a mass migration from sleeper class to 3rd AC. The data reflects a transformative shift in train travel habits, with 3rd AC emerging as the new standard for long-distance rail journeys in India.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code