India's first AC double-decker train!

The Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala rolled out the country's first air conditioned double-decker coach for oscillation trials on the Delhi-Muradabad section.

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the introduction of AC double-decker coaches in this year's Budget.

RCF will start manufacturing the coaches after successful completion of oscillation trials.

These futuristic high-speed stainless steel AC coaches would be introduced to cater to the heavy rush of commuters in high density corridors offering AC travel at a low cost.

 

The first double decker train would be seen running on track by end of this year. The new coach with pleasing green-yellow colour scheme has all the features and the comforts of a Shatabdi coach.

A totally new coach shell design capable of running at a speed of 160 kmph was developed by RCF engineers in tandem with Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) within a short span of just nine months.

In the new design, 128 passengers can be seated as compared with 78 passengers in Shatabdi chair cars, thus increasing the capacity by almost 70 per cent.

The overall height of a double decker coach has been increased marginally (four and a half inches) keeping in view the constraints like overhead structures, bridges, electric traction equipment, platforms etc, so that these coaches can be used without modifying any of the fixed structures except for clearing some minor infringements.

Space for the two decks has been generated by optimally using the well space between the two bogies.

To save upon space, it was decided to use End-On-Generation configuration where power for train lighting and air-conditioning is supplied by two power cars, attached at both ends of the train.

The new design uses many superior technical 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.

This coach is fitted with control discharge toilet system.

General Manager, RCF Pradeep Kumar congratulated all the officials of the organisation who worked on this project and gave it a final shape in record time of 9 months.

He said that double decker trains would herald a new era in rail travel in the country, because now a common man would be able to afford air conditioned travel at a low cost.