The Garib Rath (literally: “Poor Man’s Chariot”) is a no-frills air-conditioned train started by the Indian Railways in 2005 to provide cheaper air-conditioned travel to passengers who could not afford normal fares of air conditioned class in normal trains. As the fares are less than two-thirds of the fares for air conditioned classes in other trains, the distance between each seat or berth is less, the seats and berths are narrower and each coach has more seats and berths than in air-conditioned coaches in other trains. Only seating and three-tier (78 seats) accommodation is provided in Garib Rath. The passengers are not provided free bedding or food. It is faster than super-fast express trains. The maximum speed of Garib Rath trains is around 130 kmph, nearly same as Rajdhani’s top speed.
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