AC Ride Sure Shot as 'Auto Upgrade' Must Now

Current Booking facility may become unavailable in AC coaches, but will continue in Sleeper Class and Second Sitting

- B ANBUSELVAN @Chennai

IN a key policy shift, Indian Railways have issued instructions to fill all vacant seats and berths in AC coaches of trains through the "auto upgrade" facility with holders of confirmed tickets from lower classes like Sleeper Class (SL) and Second Sitting (2S) during the preparation of the first chart, which is usually done four hours before the departure of a train from its source.

The move is likely to make the Current Booking (CB) facility unavailable in AC coaches, such as Chair Car (CC), Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A), and First AC (1A). However, the CB will be available for SL and 2S.