Gearing up to run trains at higher speed, railways will this month unveil modern coaches equipped with automatic sliding doors and electro-pneumatically assisted brake system to assist in operating at 200 kmph speed.
Manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, the first consignment of four high speed coaches – two AC chair cars and two Executive Class – are being readied to travel to the capital before March, said a senior Railway Ministry official.
Each coach is estimated to cost about Rs 3.25 cr as against the Rs 2.5 cr for the normal coach. The official said the coaches are equipped with latest technology like stainless steel brake disc, sintered pads and electro-pneumatically assisted brake system to run at a higher speed.
Besides, the entrance will have automatically sliding doors like Metro coaches and better dust, sound and heat insulation system.
He said the third major modification in these coaches involves improved and wider inter-car vestibule area between the coaches, which will help reduce dirt and water ingress besides reducing noise level.
A total of 20 coaches will be manufactured at RCF out of which four are almost ready and the rest will be delivered in June this year as announced by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in his last budget.
The new initiative involves manufacturing a rake of 20 coaches which comprises 14 AC chair cars, 3 Executive Chair cars and 3 Power cars. Other features which are incorporated in these 200 kmph coaches include improved passenger safety and comfort.
The coaches will have aesthetically pleasant interiors with spacious and ergonomically designed seats. There will be provision of personal infotainment system in coaches also. Each coach will emphasize on safety, and will have fire retardant furnishing besides fire and smoke detection alarms.
The lavatories of these coaches will have redesigned interior and equipped with vacuum evacuation assisted toilets. The plush interiors will have touchless fittings in taps, hand dryers and soap dispensers besides marble finish and anti graffiti coating on walls.
The coaches carry colour scheme based on Cheetah, the fastest animal known for its vitality, and has been developed in association with the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.