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  4. Post-Covid travel trends: Surge in 3rd AC passengers reshapes Indian Railways | In pics

Post-Covid travel trends: Surge in 3rd AC passengers reshapes Indian Railways | In pics

Indian Railways sees an unprecedented rise in 3rd AC passengers post-Covid, surpassing sleeper class in revenue. Find out what’s driving this shift in train travel trends.

nitin-kumar
Edited By: Nitin Kumar @Niitz1
Published on: February 25, 2025 10:17 IST
The Indian Railways, the world's largest rail network, carries millions of passengers on a daily basis. Although travel by train has always been the most popular means of transport in India, current post-pandemic trends show a dramatic change in passenger preferences—a stunning increase in 3rd AC travel.
1/10 Image Source : PTI
The Indian Railways, the world's largest rail network, carries millions of passengers on a daily basis. Although travel by train has always been the most popular means of transport in India, current post-pandemic trends show a dramatic change in passenger preferences—a stunning increase in 3rd AC travel.
As per newly released figures of Indian Railways, the 3rd AC passengers have skyrocketed since the Covid-19 pandemic, outpacing the previously dominant sleeper class.
2/10 Image Source : PTI
As per newly released figures of Indian Railways, the 3rd AC passengers have skyrocketed since the Covid-19 pandemic, outpacing the previously dominant sleeper class.
3rd AC passengers rise post-Covid: The Covid-19 pandemic, which engulfed the world in 2019, brought about a change in lifestyles, including those of people and their preference to travel.
3/10 Image Source : PTI
3rd AC passengers rise post-Covid: The Covid-19 pandemic, which engulfed the world in 2019, brought about a change in lifestyles, including those of people and their preference to travel.
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Comfort and hygiene took center stage, which changed the way people wanted to travel by train.
4/10 Image Source : PTI
Comfort and hygiene took center stage, which changed the way people wanted to travel by train.
As per recent railway statistics, a significant majority of passengers who had earlier been traveling in sleeper class have now migrated to 3rd AC.
5/10 Image Source : PTI
As per recent railway statistics, a significant majority of passengers who had earlier been traveling in sleeper class have now migrated to 3rd AC.
This has led to an unprecedented increase in 3rd AC bookings, catapulting it as one of the hottest travel classes after the pandemic.
6/10 Image Source : PTI
This has led to an unprecedented increase in 3rd AC bookings, catapulting it as one of the hottest travel classes after the pandemic.
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Mind-boggling increase in numbers: The past five years have seen a mind-boggling surge in 3rd AC passenger numbers: 2019-20: Only 1.4 per cent of all travelers (11 crore passengers) chose 3rd AC travel. 2024-25: A 19 per cent rise took this figure to a whopping 26 crore passengers.
7/10 Image Source : PTI
Mind-boggling increase in numbers: The past five years have seen a mind-boggling surge in 3rd AC passenger numbers: 2019-20: Only 1.4 per cent of all travelers (11 crore passengers) chose 3rd AC travel. 2024-25: A 19 per cent rise took this figure to a whopping 26 crore passengers.
The growth is not only in the number of passengers but also in terms of revenue generation. 2019-20: Indian Railways generated Rs 12,370 crore in revenue from 3rd AC tickets. 2024-25: This revenue figure has jumped to Rs 30,089 crore, a huge hike in earnings.
8/10 Image Source : PTI
The growth is not only in the number of passengers but also in terms of revenue generation. 2019-20: Indian Railways generated Rs 12,370 crore in revenue from 3rd AC tickets. 2024-25: This revenue figure has jumped to Rs 30,089 crore, a huge hike in earnings.
3rd AC surpasses sleeper class in revenue contribution: Prior to the pandemic, sleeper class was generating the maximum percentage of revenue for Indian Railways. But in a significant post-pandemic turn of events, 3rd AC has emerged as the largest revenue earner, overtaking sleeper class for the first time ever.
9/10 Image Source : PTI
3rd AC surpasses sleeper class in revenue contribution: Prior to the pandemic, sleeper class was generating the maximum percentage of revenue for Indian Railways. But in a significant post-pandemic turn of events, 3rd AC has emerged as the largest revenue earner, overtaking sleeper class for the first time ever.
The growing demand for comfort, hygiene, and affordability has been the key driver in this shift, turning 3rd AC into the new favorite among rail travelers.
10/10 Image Source : PTI
The growing demand for comfort, hygiene, and affordability has been the key driver in this shift, turning 3rd AC into the new favorite among rail travelers.
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