Different Train Compartment (Coach) Types

Indian Railways – Travel Classes / Compartments / Coaches Codes:

Indian Railways have different traveling coaches, including non-AC and AC coaches, with other services and prices. There is no necessity for a train to have all of these class coaches, but have at least one of these traveling class coaches.

General Class (Code: GEN):

This is Travel without a seat guarantee; with a General ticket, you can board only the General compartment of the train; however, seat availability is totally based on first come, first get and mutual adjustment (that’s why they are always overcrowded). Also, not all trains have a General Compartment. So you can travel in very few trains with a General Coach (some people call bogie in everyday language).

The good thing about General Class travel is it is not bound to train. If multiple trains run on a route and have a General Compartment, you can travel in any of them without a seat reservation. There are only one or two General Compartments in most trains.

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Second Seater Class (Code: 2S):

This is considered the best affordable way to travel short-distance journeys. In 2S class, there are multiple seating sets (usually 3 x 3 seat sets) and 108 seats.  You need to reserve a seat before traveling. 2S coaches are most common in Jan Shatabdi Trains.

Sleeper Class (Code: SL):

The sleeper class is a regular sleeping compartment most common for travelers. With a Sleeper Class Travel Ticket, you get a whole seat like shown above, on which you can comfortably sleep. Usually, there are 72 seats in each Sleeper class. Almost all trains have Sleeper Class compartments; in many long-route trains, more than 50% of coaches are sleeper class. Some trains with Sleeper class are Karnataka Express, Mussori Express, and Golden Temple Mail.

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Air Conditioned Chair Car Class (Code: CC):

AC chair car is precisely like second seating but is air-conditioned and better served. Day trains (short-distance trains) and special trains (AC double deck seats) mostly have chair car coaches. Some CC class trains are New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi and New Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi.

Executive Chair Car (EC): Some trains have EC class instead of CC class, which is almost the same as CC; the only difference is there are 4 seats per row in Executive Chair Car, and Chairs have 5 seats per row.

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Air Conditioned Three-Tier Class (Code: 3A):

Sleeper class 3A also has three beds (bunks), i.e., Upper, Middle, and Lower, but these are Air Conditioned and better appointed than Sleeper class. There are a total of 64 seats (bunks) in each coach. Some Trains with the 3A class coaches are Garib Rath, Duranto, AC Special, Chennai Express, etc.

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Second Seating Class (Code: 2A):

Second-seating coaches are more private, spacious, and comfortable than 3A classes, with only 48 seats / Bunks.  There is a private curtain and reading light for each passenger. Almost all essential trains, including Rajdhani and Shatabdi, have 2A class compartments.

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First Class AC Coach (Code: 1A):

First Class or 1A coaches are the most expensive travel class on Indian Railways; hence, they are most maintained, spacious, private, and luxurious. There is one attendant per coach, and usually, there are 16 to 18 seats in each first-class coach (including Couple Coupe). Only some trains on popular routes have 1A class coaches.