Indian Railways (IR) will soon be unveiling India’s first double-decker AC (Air Conditioned) train by year-end. The first AC coach was rolled out by Railway Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala in March this year, after which it went for extensive trial runs. "Trail run for 130 km per hour is also on in the Agra-Mathura section and this would be completed within this month," a railway official said.
The AC train equipped with complete sitting accommodation will be an inter-city service on a high density route, having a separate fare structure. Besides each coach will have a capacity of 128 passengers as compared to 78 passengers in Shatabdi chair cars, thus increasing the sitting space by almost 70 per cent.
The design of the coaches boasts of superior features like aesthetically pleasing stainless steel body, high speed Eurofima design bogies with air springs for superior ride quality and many other safety-related features. The coaches are also fitted with control discharge toilet system.
Pradeep Kumar, General Manager, RCF said: “The double Decker trains will herald a new era in rail travel in the country, because now a common man will be able to afford air conditioned travel at a low cost”.
