Comfortable Travel in AC-3 Tier Class?
People naturally expect less overcrowding due to lesser number of seats in AC-3 vs. sleeper class, better cleanliness/toilets due to this and more comfort due to air conditioning provided in the coaches. Whereas the railway purpose of more revenue is already served, whether the passengers’ purpose of switching over to AC-3 is getting realized?
Due to large number of unconfirmed wait listed and unreserved passengers still boarding the train and also numerous people viz. hawkers, pantry car staff, the unofficial sweepers (they cannot be called beggars!), people sleeping in the passages etc., whether the overcrowding has stopped in AC-3? With more people using the toilets and railways not bothering about coach cleanliness/toilets cleaning once the train has departed from the starting station, the condition keeps deteriorating even in AC-3 till the destination is reached. What about comfort due to AC? Many times the coaches become chilling plants, much to the discomfort of senior citizens/others since setting in the AC is very low (18-20o C, which consumes much higher power unlike 24-25o C which has been made a norm in Japan for better energy conservation) and nobody is there to look after in reality (although AC coach attendants used to be there earlier (?), who were not doing anything regarding AC complaints). Many passengers have experienced shivering cold inside AC-3 coach many times, while travelling through very hot paces, where outside temperatures were in 43-45 oC range. In short the AC setting is always full and the chill unbearable sometimes even with the provision of blankets! Many times air circulation inside is also poor to the extent of suffocating to sensitive passengers, unlike sleeper class where ample natural ventilation is available in the fast moving train.
Whether the olden days ‘(non AC) First Class’ was serving the passengers better? These days, considering the above points for AC-3 based on real experiences, WHETHER
- Air travel is a better option for those booking in advance and for whom time and comfort is much better priority than cost?
- The sleeper class is a better value for money and health for other passengers, considering the other common denominators of time, and cleanliness? more