Low-cost Yuva trains likely to introduce AC-3 tier coaches

The Railways has been running two Yuva Express trains with AC chair car facilities for the past three years connecting the national capital with Kolkata and Mumbai.

"Though the two AC trains are running on two important routes which have heavy demand throughout the year, the earnings are not up to the mark," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

About 10,500 passenger trains run daily and the loss in the passenger earnings has gone up to Rs 25,000 crore in the current fiscal and Railways is trying to reduce the loss margin by initiating several measures including curbing on its expenditure.

The Railway official said the idea to add AC-3 tier coaches came since passengers prefer sleeper berth facility in overnight journeys and Yuva trains currently provide only seating arrangements.

"We are planning to add AC-3 tier in both trains to accommodate more passengers as the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes are always high on demand," the official

said.

Targeting youth and low-income group in the age group of 18 to 45 years, the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced low-cost Yuva trains with AC chair car facilities to counter her predecessor Lalu Prasad's Garib Rath Express.

Initially 60 per cent of the total seats were reserved for youths and passengers of the low-income group, while the remaining were meant for general passengers.

However, the occupancy rate in youth

... contd.