The reduction in the sleeper coaches have forced some of those crowds into the 3A, the rest are forced to clog up in the remaining sleeper coaches alongside with the general passengers like cattle.
IMO 2A coaches should be increased as the 3A crowd is slowly migrating into 2AC.
The 2A and 1A crowds are moving towards air travel whenever possible.
Add...
more... to that the callous attitude of the railways regarding punctuality, and the growth of low cost air travel options, the illusion of IR AC travel being a 'paisa vasool' option has disappeared !