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AC3 is very similar to AC2, but it has three tiers of bunks - upper, middle and lower - arranged in bays of six on one side of the aisle, and bays of two (upper and lower) along the coach side on the other side of the aisle. It's more crowded than AC 2-tier, and it lacks the privacy curtains and individual berth lights found in AC2. As in AC2, an attendant distributes pillows, sheets and blankets in the evening. Berths convert to seats for daytime use. Berth numbering system, AC1, AC2, AC3, Sleeper Class cars,

Right: An AC3 sleeper on the new Jaisalmer - Delhi Express. In the far photo, the middle bunk is shown folded against the wall. The seat backrest folds down to form the bottom bunk,

AC three tier is the lowest cost class in the AC sleeper classes. The coach layout appears more or less similar to the Sleeper Class, though a bit spacious. Each 3A coaches accommodate 64 passengers. A typical long distance train is attached with 2 or 4 3A coaches. Thanks to its attractive fare structure compared to the other higher class fares, 3A seats always get booked fast. The wait list of 3A too doesn’t advance faster (like in case of Sleeper Class) , as there are only limited seats available per train ,

The coaches are fixed with non-openable tinted glass windows. That means you can’t enjoy the scenery outside, the way it is possible the more open and airy Sleeper Class. Also it restricts the ‘window sale’ of food and drinks available at stations, the part and parcel of rail travel in India. More of it is explained in the Food in Trains,

New Delhi to Mumbai travel ( about 1500 kilometers/930 miles) by 3A class cost you about Rs1200 ( USD30),

Bedroll is provided inside the coach (a thin pillow, 2 white linen sheets and a woolen blanket) . Your 3A ticket comes with a free luggage allowance limit of 40kg ( plus 10kg marginal allowance) . Officially the size of the luggage pieces allowed inside the 3A coaches is 55cm x 45 cm x 22.5 cm . However this is not as firmly insisted as in the case of airlines,