Really ?? Where do you get your facts from ? In reality the middle class passengers still prefer SL over 3rd AC...just check how many trains with AC coaches are running vaccant..and btw did you ever notice how much the 3rd ac fares have been covertly increased over the years...I paid something around 1200 rupees for a journey of about 1200 km from MFP to BPL in Raptisagar when I was in college 5-6 years back..until recently the fare was around 1400-1500 but now it's 1800 rupees..almost equal to what the fare of 2nd ac was back then...