Sat Aug 02 02:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:

**Summary:**

A decade-long trend in Indian Railways shows a significant shift towards air-conditioned travel, particularly in AC three-tier coaches, at the expense of non-AC options. Data from the Indian Railways Annual Reports indicates a doubling of AC berths/seats and a tripling of AC passengers, while non-AC options and second-class travel have declined. This aligns with Indian Railways’ intention to increase AC three-tier coaches for profitability. Despite government claims of a significant increase in non-AC coaches, data analysis suggests a growing preference for AC travel.

**News Article:**

**Indian Railways Embraces AC Travel as Demand Soars**

**New Delhi, August 2, 2025** – Indian Railways is undergoing a significant transformation, with data revealing a surge in demand for air-conditioned travel over the past decade. An analysis of the Indian Railways Annual Reports for 2013-14 and 2023-24 shows a substantial increase in the share of AC berths and seats on long-distance trains, while non-AC options dwindle.

The shift is most pronounced in AC three-tier coaches, where the share of seats has increased by 238% over the last ten years. In contrast, the availability of sleeper class seats has only increased by 21%, and other non-AC seats by a meager 6.4%.

This trend reflects a parallel change in passenger preferences. The number of passengers traveling in AC three-tier coaches has tripled since 2013-14, while the number of second-class passengers has declined by 36%.

The data suggests a clear preference for AC travel among Indian Railways passengers, reinforcing the railway’s push to expand the availability of AC three-tier coaches.

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