Indian Railways is set to introduce air-conditioned coaches in the Amrit Bharat 3.0 Express, expected to be rolled out this financial year. According to The Times of India, the 14 rakes of AC coaches will feature Vande Bharat-style amenities and will be available in all three types: AC 1st, AC-2 tier, and AC-3 tier. This upgrade comes after the success of the original Amrit Bharat Express, which has been running since 2023 with over 60 trains currently operating across the Indian Railways network.
The Amrit Bharat Express has demonstrated strong market demand with average occupancy above 100% in the sleeper class, as reported by The Times of India. The train offers fares around ₹500 per 1,000 kilometres for sleeper class travel, positioning it as an affordable option for common passengers. The train features locomotives at each end using push-pull technology, enabling maximum speed up to 130 kilometres per hour and faster acceleration compared to conventional trains.
According to The Times of India, ICF Chennai has been ordered to manufacture 50 Amrit Bharat 2.0 trains, of which 32 have been rolled out and 18 more are expected this year. Additionally, RCF, Kapurthala is also manufacturing 50 rakes. The original Amrit Bharat Express trains feature foldable snack tables, comfortable seats, LED lighting, fans with sleek SS grills, and air spring suspension bogies along with modern amenities like USB charging ports and automatic toilets.
The Amrit Bharat platform is evolving from an affordable, fully non-AC long-distance train into a multi-generation platform with upgraded safety, comfort and technology. As reported by The Times of India, Amrit Bharat 2.0 has already added features such as semi-automatic couplers, crashworthy systems, USB charging and improved toilets. These enhancements position the train for the next major upgrade with Amrit Bharat 3.0 and its AC coaches, representing a significant evolution from the original concept.
Railway experts are advocating for broader AC train adoption across Indian Railways. As reported by The Times of India, Sudhanshu Mani, retired ICF GM and creator of Vande Bharat Express, believes Indian Railways should aspire to have only AC trains in the coming years for common man's journeys. G Raghuram, Advisor at The Infravision Foundation, notes that having two locomotives at each end helps on high density routes to avoid locomotive reversal and improve passenger experience.
