A total number of 3492.42 million passengers travelled in non-suburban unreserved segment during the year 2011-12. There are 19238 general coaches on Indian Railways. The unreserved tickets sold are not train specific. Passengers holding unreserved tickets can travel in any train going in that direction on a specific calendar date for which the ticket is valid. The carrying capacity of unreserved general class coach is 90 in respect of Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coach, 100 in Hybrid design coach (SGS) and 99 in Linke Hoffman Bush (LHB) design general coach.
Condition of general coaches has improved over the years. Now almost all the general coaches have been fixed with cushioned seats. All newly manufactured coaches are fitted with upgraded furnishing materials. Stainless steel luggage rack has also been fitted in some of the coaches.
Efforts have been made to provide adequate number of general class coaches in all the long distance Mail/Express trains. From 2007-08 onwards, number of general class coaches has been increased from four to six in the newly introduced trains as part of composition. In addition, six Jan Sadharan, two Janseva, one Jannayak, three Karmabhoomi Express and some intercity trains are running with only general second class accommodation. However, attachment of coaches including general class coaches in train services on Indian Railways is done keeping in view of the traffic pattern of different class of passengers, and operational feasibility.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha