The 8 classes on Indian trains...

There are 8 classes of accommodation on Indian trains, although only a selection of these classes will be available
on any given train. Here are the classes, in roughly descending order of cost, together with the usual 2- or 3-letter
abbreviations...

Air-conditioned first class (AC1 or 1A)

AC1 is a comfortable and civilised way to travel, although it's only found on the most important long-distance trains
and costs twice the price of AC2. In AC1 you're typically mixing with bank managers and army officers. It consists
of fairly spacious, carpeted and lockable 4-berth & 2-berth sleeper compartments with washbasin. All necessary
bedding is provided, and berths convert to seats for daytime use. You cannot specify that you want berths in a 2-
berth rather than a 4-berth compartment when you book, nor will you be given specific berth numbers when you
book, as specific berth numbers are only allocated by Indian Railways closer to the departure date and shown on
reservation lists at the station before departure and on the coach side. Couples are normally given preference for
the 2-berth coupés, families and passengers travelling alone are normally allocated berths in one of the 4-berth
compartments, but of course this can't be guaranteed. Note that when using online systems such as
indianrail.gov.in or cleartrip.com, the AC1 sleepers shown here and AC Executive Chair class (available on certain
short-distance inter-city trains) are both shown as AC1, the systems do not distinguish between the two classes.
Click for car plans & berth numbering in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class.

Regular AC1 cars have a side corridor (above centre) off which open two or three 2-berth coupés
and (above right) a number of spacious 4-berth sleeper compartments. The 4-berth AC1 sleeper
above right is on the Jaisalmer-Delhi Express with the usual brown leatherette
seats/berths. Interios photos courtesy of Peter Pitt .
Rajdhani Express AC1 cars: The Bombay to New Delhi and New Delhi to Calcutta Rajdhani
Expresses are front-rank trains which have newer cars like this. Above left, the Bombay-Delhi
Rajdhani Express boarding in Bombay, and above right a spacious carpeted 4-berth compartment
on the same train. Photos courtesy of Sunil Mehta.

Air-conditioned 2-tier (AC2 or 2A)

AC2 is relatively clean, comfortable and not crowded, a good choice for most visitors to India. It's found on almost
all decent long-distance trains, and it's the class typically used by middle class Indian families. AC2 provides
padded leatherette seats by day, convertible to flat padded bunks at night. AC2 coaches are not divided into
separate compartments, but are open-plan with berths arranged in bays of four on one side of the aisle (two upper,
two lower, transverse across the car width), and in bays of two on the other side of the aisle, arranged longitudinally
along the coach side above and below the windows. Each bay is curtained off for privacy, and an attendant
distributes pillows, sheets and blankets in the evening. If you're tall, you want a transverse berth.
Click for car plans & berth numbering in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class.

A bay of 4 berths in an Open-plan aisle in

AC2 sleeper. The seat AC2. Bays of 4 to the
back folds down to right, bays of 2 on the
form the bottom bunk. left
Air-conditioned 3-tier (AC3 or 3A)
AC3 is very similar to AC2, but it has three tiers of bunks - upper, middle and lower - arranged in bays of six on
one side of the aisle, and bays of two (upper and lower) along the coach side on the other side of the aisle. It's more
crowded than AC 2-tier, and it sometimes lacks the privacy curtains and individual berth lights found in AC2. As in
AC2, an attendant distributes pillows, sheets and blankets in the evening. Berths convert to seats for daytime
use. Click for car plans & berth numbering in AC1, AC2, AC3, AC Chair, Sleeper Class.

An AC3 sleeper on the new Jaisalmer - Delhi

Express. In the far photo, the middle bunk is shown
folded against the wall. The seat backrest folds
down to form the bottom bunk.

First class (FC)

Traditional non-air-con 1st class has now almost disappeared, as Indian Railways have progressively phased it out
in favour of AC 2-tier. But for the record, ordinary first class consists of non-air-conditioned sleeper coaches with
lockable 4-berth and 2-berth compartments. Bedding is not included in the fare, but may be available for a small
extra charge if booked in advance. It is much grubbier than either AC1, AC2 or AC3 as it is not sealed against the
dirt.
AC Executive chair class (EC)
AC Executive Chair Class is only found on the most important Shatabdi Express trains. Seats are arranged 2+2
across the car width, and on Shatabdi Expresses food & drink is included in the fare, served at your seat. The more
modern type of car is shown here, found on the morning Delhi to Agra Bhopal Shatabdi and the Delhi to Jaipur &
Ajmer Ajmer Shatabdi, AC Exec Chair class is available to holders of an AC1 IndRail pass. Note that online booking
systems don't distinguish between AC Executive Chair class & AC1 sleepers, both are shown as AC1 or 1A. Photo
courtesy of Simon Smidt. Seat numbering plan, AC Chair cars.

AC Chair class (CC)

AC Chair class is a good choice for daytime journeys. Comfortable & air-conditioned, they have seats arranged 2+3
across the car width. AC Chair Class is found on the Shatabdi Expresses and a number of other inter-city daytime
trains, for example Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Kalka for Simla. It's available to holders of a AC2 class IndRail
pass. Seat numbering plan, AC Chair cars.

Sleeper Class (SL)

This is the way most of the less-well-off Indian population travels long-distance, and the majority of cars on a
long-distance train will be sleeper class. Sleeper class consists of open plan berths with upper, middle and lower
bunks arranged in bays of six on one side of the aisle, and along the coach wall in bays of two (upper and lower) on
the other side of the aisle. Bedding is not provided, so bring a sleeping bag. Sleeper class is found on almost all
long-distance trains except for the premier 'Rajdhani Express' services. Sleeper class can be quite crowded
(although in theory all berths must be reserved, so it can't get overcrowded), and it's fairly grubby and basic. On the
other hand, you get a better view of the countryside then in AC coaches, where the windows are sealed, tinted, and
sometimes dirty. In summer, there are fans on the ceiling and a breeze from the windows. In winter, wrap up warm
at night and take a sleeping bag and fleece, as it can get cold. Sleeper class is used by the more adventurous
backpackers, who are prepared to take the rough with the smooth... Berth numbering system, AC1, AC2, AC3, AC
Chair, Sleeper Class cars.

Sleeper class windows are
fitted with bars to keep out
intruders. There is a glass
pane and a shutter both of
which can be raised /
lowered.
A bay of six in sleeper
class, with seats in day
mode on the left, and
berths in night time
mode on the right.
The aisle of a sleeper
class car. Bays of six to
the right, bays of two
on the left. Bring your
own bedding!

2nd class seats (2S = reserved or II = unreserved)

Open plan cars with wooden or padded plastic seats, sometimes reserved and shown online as 2S, sometimes
unreserved and shown online as II. Not recommended for long distance overnight journeys (you'll see the huge
scrum of Indians all trying to bag a seat in unreserved 2nd class), but quite acceptable for daytime journeys of up to
a few hours if you're on a budget.

2nd class seating car. Some trains have padded plastic 2nd class ...others
seats... wooden seats.