Trains are a fun way to travel, and they carry a certain bit of sentiment as well. But each person has a different kind of love for a certain part of the train journey, and most of it has to do with the type of bogies they travel in. The Indian Railways has a huge number of bogies and different classes of seats available in them. Each of the classes of seating differs in price and berths. Here are some of the different classes:
- 1A (first class A/C):
This one is the most expensive in the list. The prices are so high that they are almost on par with airfares. The full coach can house eight cabins along with two couple-cabins. The half coach can house three cabins and also has an attendant, who helps. The cabins feature extremely wide beds, fully carpeted flooring, and privacy features. - 2A (A/C two-tier):
This is a type of air-conditioned coach that offers eight sleeping berths in a bay and can house 48 or 24 passengers depending on the layout of the berth. It also contains curtains and is quite spacious compared to other berths. - FC (First Class):
This is a similar set up to first class, but with lesser space in the beds. It also has air conditioning along with an attendant available for assistance. - 3A & 3E (three-tier & economy):
There are two different types of berths, ac three tiers that include bedding and are an arrangement of 3 tiers across the width and two long ways as well. It can house a total of 64 passengers per coach. Three tier economy offers air conditioning and sleeping berths in the same arrangement as 3A, but without the bedding and other amenities. They are presently operational in the Garib Rath express trains. - EC (Executive Chair Car):
These chair cars have huge seats with spacious leg room in an arrangement of four seats per row. They are operational in trains that travel between two cities, in which the traveling time may be less than one day. - CC (A/C chair car):
These are seats in a double-decker train coaches and are widely used in trains that travel between two cities and the travel time is less than a day. - SL (Sleeper Class):
The most common coach type in the Indian railways with usually ten plus coaches attached in a train. It can usually carry over 70 passengers. They do not feature air conditioning, but sometimes bedding is provided. - 2S (Second Seater):
These are chair cars without air conditioning and only operate between the Mumbai- Pune trains and the Flying Ranee. The Flying Ranee is the only train that uses a double-decker coach. - UR/ GEN (Unreserved/General):
The most widely used and most affordable seats; these seats are available on first-come first-served basis and space is very limited. A special feature with these trains is that they are valid on any train that plies on the same route within 24 hours of the purchase of the ticket.
Online train tickets can be easily purchased on the IRCTC website as well as many other travel websites.