The Ministry of Railways has updated the quota system for the recently launched Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat-II trains. The national carrier allocates an Emergency Quota (EQ) to address passengers' urgent travel needs, but it is not available to everyone. It is reserved for specific groups of passengers.
In a letter sent to all zonal railways on 9 February, the Railway Board announced that after reviewing the notification issued on January 15, the emergency quota will now be applicable to Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat-II trains.
At present, Amrit Bharat trains with seven or more sleeper coaches will offer 24 emergency quota seats. This benefit will also be extended to passengers travelling on the Howrah-Anand Vihar Amrit Bharat Express, which operates via Dhanbad and includes seven sleeper coaches.
As a result, Vande Bharat Sleeper and Amrit Bharat-II trains will have five different types of quotas: Emergency, Ladies, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Senior Citizens, and Duty Pass. No other reservation quotas, such as Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC), will apply to these trains.
The Railway Board also noted that, initially, Amrit Bharat-II trains featuring seven or more Sleeper (SL) class coaches would provide an emergency quota of 24 berths.
According to a jagran.com report, the emergency quota in Vande Bharat sleeper trains will differ based on the class of coach, with separate quotas for weekdays and weekends.
- First AC: 4 emergency quota seats on regular days, 6 on weekends.
- Second AC: 20 emergency quota seats on regular days, 30 on weekends.
- Third AC: 24 emergency quota seats on regular days, 42 on weekends.
The quota can be reserved depending on the advanced booking period or the booking date, whichever comes first.
Currently, 12 Amrit Bharat-II trains are operational.