Indian Railways rolls out first AC 3-tier economy class coach
The Indian Railways on Wednesday rolled out its first air-conditioned three-tier economy class coach. The coaches will be priced between the current AC three-tier and non-AC sleeper class, the Railway Ministry said, underlining that the coaches would be economical. The Ministry has touted it to be "synonymous with the cheapest and best AC travel in the world." Here are more details.
While rolling out the new coaches, the Railway Ministry said in a statement, "This new 3-tier air-conditioned economy class coach is a symbol of aspirational India bringing AC travel to a larger number of people and enhancing the capacity of our express trains." "Undoubtedly, now every rail journey will become a journey of pleasant memories," the statement added.
The coach was rolled out from the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala to Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) Lucknow for the upcoming trial. The RCF had started working on the design of the coach last October. It plans to produce 248 such coaches during the current and next fiscal. The Ministry has said the coach is the world's "cheapest and best AC travel."
The AC ducting has been redesigned to provide individual vents for each berth. The interiors will have luminescent aisle markers, illuminated berth indicators with night lights, and luminescent berth numbers. The design includes high-voltage electric switchgear below the frame. Individual reading lights and mobile charging points are provided for each berth. Wider toilet entry doors and disabled-friendly toilet entry doors are also provided.
The number of berths in each coach has been increased from 72 to 83. The coach has an improved and modular design of seats and berths with foldable snack tables in both longitudinal and transverse bays, injury-free spaces, and holders for water bottles, mobile phones, and magazines. Public address and passenger information systems have been installed as part of passenger facilities.
