In a stunning revelation of scale, Indian Railways data confirms that 651 crore passengers travelled in general (unreserved) coaches in the financial year 2024–25. This marks the highest footfall in recent years and underscores the immense dependence on general class travel across the country.
General Coach Passenger Data: Last 5 Financial Years
| Financial Year | Passengers in General/Unreserved Coaches |
|---|---|
| FY2020‑21 | 99 crore (pandemic year) |
| FY2021‑22 | 275 crore (partial recovery) |
| FY2022‑23 | 553 crore |
| FY2023‑24 | 609 crore |
| FY2024‑25 | 651 crore |
🚨 From FY21 to FY25, general coach passengers increased by over 550%, reflecting a return to pre-Covid demand and beyond.
What This Data Reveals
1️⃣ General Class = Lifeline of India
More than 90% of all Indian Railways passengers use non-AC/general/sleeper class coaches, while reserved AC passengers make up only 11%.
2️⃣ Rural and Working-Class Mobility
The surge in unreserved travel shows that Indian Railways remains the backbone of daily transport for rural, semi-urban, and low-income travellers.
3️⃣ Policy Implications
With such massive usage, there's a pressing need for:
More general class coaches per train
Improved infrastructure at small stations
Better sanitation and safety in unreserved compartments
🚉 Reserved vs. General Class Travel (FY25)
| Class | Passengers (in crore) | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Reserved (AC + Sleeper) | 81 crore | 11.3% |
| General/Unreserved | 634 crore | 88.7% |
| Total | 715 crore | 100% |
🧭 Why Does It Matter?
Affordability drives preference: For many Indians, a general ticket remains the most affordable way to travel across states.
Regional connectivity: General coaches help maintain transport equity between Tier 2, Tier 3 towns and metros.
Railway modernization must not ignore the majority user base, which is non-AC.
❓ FAQs
Q. How many people travelled in general class in FY25?
Over 651 crore passengers used general/unreserved coaches in FY2024-25, the highest in five years.
Q. How does this compare to reserved class travel?
Only 81 crore travelled via reserved (AC + sleeper) class in the same period—just 11% of total traffic.
Q. Why is general coach travel increasing?
Due to rising population, urban migration, affordable travel demand, and reactivation of trains post-Covid.
Q. Are there any improvements planned for general class?
Yes, the government has introduced LHB general coaches with better capacity and is working on AI-based crowd monitoring at stations.
🏁 Conclusion
Indian Railways continues to serve as India’s largest and most inclusive mobility platform, and the FY25 data proves it. With over 651 crore general coach passengers, the demand for low-cost rail travel is only increasing. It's time to focus policy efforts not just on Vande Bharat or AC coaches—but also on the millions who travel general class every single day.
Published on : 29th July
Published by : SMITA
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