Even as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders are claiming that an all-AC ‘AP Express’ from Vijayawada to New Delhi will be a reality soon, the railway authorities apparently prepared a report that says the AC train is not remunerative.
A study by the railways here, sources say, that the people preferring to travel in air conditioned (AC) coaches are not on expected lines. As many as 17 trains pass through Vijayawada to New Delhi, including two originating from Visakhapatnam. But, the average demand from Vijayawada towards New Delhi is only around 80 AC berths a day.
More so, the average waiting list will be five to ten for first AC and 10 to 15 for second AC. The first and second AC will generate more revenue to the railways compared to third AC. The patronage to AC seats has been dwindling primarily due to better air travel facility.
This apart, the national carrier, Air India, operates two flights, one in morning and evening, from Vijayawada to New Delhi. According to travel industry sources, the occupancy rate of these flights would be around 80 per cent on working days and more than 90 per cent on weekends. More so, cancellations are very less.
People prefer air travel as it saves a lot of time and money. The travel to New Delhi is about 2 hours in a flight while it would more than 24 hours by train. A 3AC ticket costs around Rs. 1,795, while 2AC and 1 AC tickets cost Rs. 2,620 and Rs. 4,510 respectively. However, the flight ticket costs around Rs. 5,000, they point out.
Quoting information furnished by the railway authorities, RTI activist M. Pradyumna says that the railways plans to ply an all AC train with 13 coaches for 3AC, 4 for 2AC and one for 1AC. If the demand for existing trains were to be considered, not even two coaches would be full at the starting point, even if all the 80 passengers are accommodated on this train, he says.
In addition, the railway sources say, the Vijayawada division received only one rake Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches for train. However, the railway requires four rakes to run a daily express. There is acute shortage of these coaches, and the Kapurthala unit which is manufacturing these coaches is unable to meet the requirement. The railway also needs to procure two power cars to maintain uninterrupted AC in the train, sources say.
Patronage to AC seats has been dwindling primarily due to better air travel facility
