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The first of the Durontos, to be flagged off between Sealdah and Delhi on September 18, will have five Economy AC-3 coaches in addition to one AC-1, three AC-2 and four AC-3 coaches. This fully air-conditioned biweekly train is to cover the 1,454 km distance between Sealdah and Delhi in 16-and-half hours, one-and-half hours less than a Rajdhani on the same route.
The Railways are positioning the Economy AC-3 as a new AC Class, offering travel at fares lesser than the normal AC-3. The extra berths are being squeezed in to increase coach capacity from 64 to 72 berths — it will, however, reduce the comfort level. A ticket in Economy AC-3 may cost up to Rs 50 less than an AC-3 ticket.
Sources in the Railways Ministry told The Indian Express that to start with, the Durontos, like the one between Sealdah and Delhi, will have coaches designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. “The Economy AC-3 coaches will be similar in overall dimension to normal AC-3 coaches but will have more berths squeezed in,” the sources said.
While some officials maintain that the Economy AC-3 will have the German LHB-design coaches, other officials say that these will be there only in Durontos with both AC and non-AC coaches while the fully air-conditioned Durontos will have ICF-styled coaches with extra berths.
sir, i wanna know that if the waiting list of rajdhani express goes above 100, then will u put an additional coach for waiting passengers. if not so, then why IR issue them waiting list above then 100.
i have traveled with ernakulam duronto ,trivandrum rajdhani.in all these important trains. service is OK.but the quality.taste and standard of food is really poor.why the government does not take any steps.its only a matter of spending little bit more money.the serving of poor food services in rajdhani and duronto trains could explain, how much seriousness IRCTC could have.and the Chennai duronto very very bad services everything is poor in this train,no cleanliness,the service staff in the Chennai duronto don't know how to do a good service.
fares of ac economy clas should be lesser. the ac 3tier fares for garib rath is quite less. if the government wants to introduce ac economy class then its fare should be more or like the garib rath fares which are excluding food and blanket. thank uou.
instead of tinkering and tweaking with an ancient rail system,IR should lay new tracks with modern technology and even run more trains on older lines,rather than putting up a barbaric and inhuman 3rd berth in coaches. As a matter of fact,the whole concept of side berths are ridiculous with little room for luggage and even personal movement and all the more so if one is aged,heavier,healthier and taller. They should be done away with quickly or if not charged less.IR should lay an extra line to howrah n guwahati from delhi in view of the rush on this section and also not hesitate to raise prices to increase amenities,and also to add more AC coaches,as we see AC berths lapped up more quickly than sleeper berths.
Guys first these are called economy 3 tier. Railways had given this facility so that an middle class person can travel on a airconditioned compartment for a lesser price. Also all the ppl complain about services offered by railways. we should think before comparing trains run in abroad & in india. we carry more than 800 ppl in a single train with 24 bogies. name a train in abroad which has more than 10 compartments. This is the reason why our trains run slowly & more over we have fools who always trespass the railway line & levelcrossings. everyone should also realise a avrage middle class guy travels on a sleeper class and the railways charges less than a rupee for each kilometer. if they have to improve the facilities,means the prices will go up and we start complain on that. We indians want to use maxi comfort at a lower prices. At the end of the day a railway employee has free restricted yearly pass, which is a previlage. What about Corporate guys,we want company to pay for tickets
How many RAC tickets are issued in a coach of 2 tier AC Pune Duronto Express before issuing waitlisted tickets and what is the number of 2 tier AC coaches in this train? Please reply soon.
All side and side middle berths in AC tier should be allotted to Railway employees including higher level of officers of Railway Board and their families travelling without giving any money to Railway. This is a cruel treatment meted to the poor passengers who travel long distance after spending huge amount. And the food served in the train is also needs to improved as IRCTC services are totally a failure due to poor quality, quantity and also high price.
i dont know y such dumb people working in Indian railway
These guys mind's really sucks. Its so simple thing to understand about. And i m sure the person would have got a pat on his back by his seniors (Ministers/Railway's Head) on suggesting such bright idea, Because not the guy but every one of them deserve a slap. i cancelled my reservation three times after getting the side birth, coz earlier they allot the seat on the basis of normal seating design and when you reach at platform a SURPRISE will be waiting for you. Very Dissapointing i really feel pity on these guys minds.
i guess railway ministry is mind less.are they food? can't they understand it is not feasale to have 3 birth in side lower side.all minister are really lucky that they are minister had they been not minister i guess they would not have been able to get Rs. 2000/- job in market.they should travel in these so call econoy seat on daily basis from kolkota to delhi then they tell us should they introduce this class or not.i don't understand what type of people these minister are?
I do not know what kind of people decide such things in Indian Railways. There is no logic in charging Rs 50 less for AC 3 Economy. People will still prefer AC3 Tier than this. Moreover, only people with the side birth are going to be uncomfortable. So why introduce such a class. Even after Lalu learned a lesson resulting in withdrawal of such births from coaches.
This is really ridiculous to have three births on the side as the passenger who is travelling on side middle birth is goind to suffer a lot and becoz of this all the side births are such a pain to passengers.YOU CAN SEE THE RESPONSE IN THE FORM OF THE AVAILABILITY WHICH IS ALWAYS THERE FOR 3RD AC ECONOMY WHREAS ALL THE OTHERS ARE NOT AT ALL AVAILABLE.
Travelling in Side Berths is unfair. This may be allocated to children or those less than 5 feet. A new column may be developed in IRCTC site and this should be meant for those booking online. If no seats are available, this may be offered for short people and children. If they think that this is not feasible, they should remove side berths at all or else they may expand the length of the berth. However, considering so many Waiting List and RAC, this is far better. Innovation is not only just for speaking about but also for exercising.
I don't know why a person travelling by the side seats are made to pay the same charge as others when it is lot less comfortable. Now ,with the introduction of the middle seats , it is even more uncomfortable. It is only the people who travel by the side seats who will know the difference between 'normal' and 'economy' AC 3 tier
Indeed Indian Railway is playing with health of ppl. Railway is not charging lesser amount from ppl for travelling by SIDE birth, having sleepless night journey and disturbing unlawful passengers; which ideally they should. All ministers including Mamata and cabinets should be given min 16 Hour journey in a week on SIDE-MIDDLE birth (AC/Non-AC doesn't make difference). And then let’s see how long this plan continues....
The duronto express has itself brought a poor response and introducing this form of Ac 3 tier is purely a burden.Introducing them would only ruin the fame and uniformity of the Indian Railways.
Absolutely, she is playing
Lalu ji tried it and lost his ministry. Mamata didi! Are you reading this?
The side middle berth is nothing but a new method of torture. The Railway minister should travel long distance sleeping on this berth. Then she will realise how uncomfortable it is. I wish consumer organisations file a PIL against this sort of profiteering. If I had the means, I would have filed a PIL myself.
On 18-09-2009, Mamata Banerjee has flagged off “Sealdah-New Delhi Durant Express” amidst sycophant intellectuals performing jugglery to her tune for obtaining narrow political mileage without considering safety
The economy AC- 3 Tier with side middle berths on long distance trains is ridiculous. people with long distance travel need more comfort and sufficient space for luggage. both of these are overlooked in this case. It is not clear why railways want to thrust these coaches on travellers. Is it due to the fact that railway officials who promoted this idea want to save their skin at the cost of travellers.If there are several coaches, the y should be put on short distanc e, overnight journeys only. officials should not follow Delhi Metro (it is after all short distance travel) in this aspect.
THIS WAS TRIED AND IT FAILED BECAUSE THE SIDES OF THE COACHES ARE OF LESS HEIGHT AND HENCE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR 3 TIERS. I HOPE THEY DON'T GO THRU THE SAME EXCERCISE AGAIN AND COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSIONS AGAIN. THE DESIGNERS SHOULD SLLEP IN THOSE TIERS FOR THE NIGHT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY. ALSO, THERE WILL BE NO ROOM TO PUT THREE PERSON LUGGAGE UNDER THE SEATS! RAILWAYS, DON'T BE TOO GREEDY!
Its totally a mess to have a side middle berth in long-distance trains. Its just horrible that Mamta is going what mistake Lalu did during his tenure. Side Middle Berth is hte worst a man can have.
When didi took over as railways, we were happy that lalu era has gone. Now adopting the same lalu formula, making the mockery of indian people and thinks that politicians are having super brain. By doing this didi is loosing her popularity. May god bless her and railway.
I think this is not a wise move. it will be horrible to travel in three tired side birth even for normal built people leave alone aged, highty and fat people. In case of accident there will be heavy causualty on the side birth area because of squeezed area. Passenger will also be squeezed easily. If Railway really means passenger comfort safety and econmy the hight of the bogie has to be incrased so that level of main births and side births are maintained.Some wise fellow should take later this issue with Human right Commission.
