| 1A |
1 AC – First class AC: This is the most expensive class, where the fares are almost at par with air fare. There are eight cabins in the full AC first class coach and three cabins in the half AC first class coach. Bedding is included in the fare. This air conditioned coach is present only on popular routes and can carry 18 passengers (full coach) or 10 passengers (half coach). The sleeper berths are extremely wide and spacious. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation and have privacy features like personal coupes. This class is available on broad gauge and metre gauge trains routes. |
| 2A |
2 AC – AC two tier: These air-conditioned coaches have sleeping berths across eight bays. Berths are usually arranged in two tiers in bays of six, four across the width of the coach and two berths on the other side of the corridor, with curtains along the corridor. Bedding is included in the fare. A broad gauge coach can carry 48 passengers (full coach) or 20 passengers (half coach). This class is available on broad gauge and metre gauge trains routes. |
| 2S |
Second seater class: Similar as chair cars, without the air-conditioning. These may be reserved in advance or may be unreserved. Non-AC Double Deck seater were introduced in a few Mumbai-Pune trains. However, Flying Ranee and Valsad Passenger are the only trains that use Non-AC double decker seater coaches. |
| 3A |
3 AC – AC three tier: These are air conditioned coaches with 64 sleeping berths. Berths are usually arranged as in 2AC but with three tiers across the width. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights or curtains. Bedding is included in the fare. This class is available only on broad gauge routes. |
| 3E |
AC three tier (Economy): These air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, are present on Garib Rath trains. Berths are usually arranged as in 3A but with three tiers across the width and three side tiers. They are slightly less well-appointed, usually no reading lights or curtains. Bedding is not included in the fare. |
| CC |
AC chair car: An air-conditioned seater coach with a total of five seats in a row used for day travel between cities. AC Double Deck seater coaches are used in Double Decker Express. |
| EC |
Executive class chair car: An air-conditioned coach with large spacious seats and legroom. It has a total of four seats in a row used for day travel between cities. This class of travel is only available on Shatabdi Express. |
| FC |
First class: Similar as 1A, but without air conditioning. No bedding is available in this class. The berths are wide and spacious. There is a coach attendant to help the passengers. This class has been phased out on most of the trains and is rare to find. However, narrow gauge trains routes to hill stations have this class. |
| SL |
Sleeper class: The sleeper class is the most common coach on the Indian Railways, and usually ten or more coaches of SL could be attached to a train rake. These are regular sleeping coaches with three berths vertically stacked, without air conditioning. In broad gauge, it carries 72 passengers per coach. |
| UR/GEN |
Unreserved/General: This is the cheapest accommodation. The seats are usually made up of pressed wood in older coaches but cushioned seats are found in new coaches. These coaches are usually over-crowded and a seat is not guaranteed. Tickets are issued in advance for a journey time of 24 hours or more. Tickets issued are valid on any train on the same route if boarded within 24 hours of buying the ticket. |
