The Economy AC-3 Class, recently introduced in the non-stop superfast Duronto trains, could be on its way out soon.

Just over a month after the first Duronto (Sealdah-Delhi) was launched on September 18, the Railways Ministry is considering the withdrawal of the new AC-3 Class following the huge number of complaints that have been pouring in, Senior Ministry officials told The Indian Express that a “rethink” was already on. “The fact is that all Durontos launched so far have been running to packed capacity and even the Economy AC-3 Class is running full. However, we have received complaints and these are being considered. A review may happen soon,” said a senior official.

These high-capacity coaches have additional side berths that were first introduced during former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s term and came in for severe criticism from the traveling public, eventually forcing the ministry to shelve the plan. Passengers complained that the berths caused a lot of discomfort.

While it was apparently a shortage of rolling stock that forced the Railways to “re-introduce” these high-capacity coaches, sources said the idea had already gone out of favour with the new set-up under Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. “There is a realisation that a bad idea first tried under Laluji's tenure has found its way into Didi’s plan to run Duronto trains. Duronto’s USP was non-stop travel. By introducing Economy AC-3, that USP has not just got diluted but has also opened us up for criticism,” said an aide.

Further, the fact that the fare difference between AC-3 and Economy AC-3 was not significant was also being viewed as a factor in the public’s criticism. While an AC-3 ticket on the Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto costs Rs 1,390, the Economy AC-3 is priced at Rs 1,335. “For Rs 55 less, a passenger in Economy AC-3 ends up traveling uncomfortably on a train that doesn’t have intermediate stoppages,” said an official.