RCF abuzz to make Lalu's dream come true

Kapurthala, Sep 30: With Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's dream project ''Garib Rath'' all set to be inaugurated on October 4, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) here is abuzz with activity to make the launch a successful event.

The two-day delay in launching of the first-ever fully-air conditioned train for the common man, earlier slated to be inaugurated on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, has not dampened the enthusiasm of the RCF officials here and they are hopeful of the project turning into a success story.

Mr Prasad's so-called poor man's train, which he announced on February 4 in his Railway Budget 2006-07, is aimed at attracting the low-income middle class group travelling in non-AC trains to air-conditioned trains by providing them the facilities available in conventional AC three-tier coaches at cheaper fares.

The introductory Ac three-tier train, to be run on Amritsar-Saharsa route, has altogether18 coaches comprising 12 sleeper coaches, and four chair cars along with two generator cars to provide power supply for the air conditioning system.

The RCF has built 14 coaches for the train, of which 12 will be used, with the remaining two to be kept as spare for emergency purposes. Likewise, the factory had manufactured three generator cars for the train, of which only two would be made functional.

The Integrated Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has produced five chair cars for the train, four to be used in the current run.

The first-of-its-kind train has 75 berths in sleeper coach as against 64 in the normal AC three-tier coaches. The number of seats has also been increased to 102 in the chair cars from 72 seats, Pratap Srivastava, General Manager of the RCF, told reporters here yesterday.

Asked if this increase in the number of seats would create lack of space for the passengers, RCF Chief Designing Engineer S K Agarwal said, "keeping in mind this problem, we have made some changes in the design which will suit the travellers." The berths are reduced by three cm to create space for of 75 seats. The linen room space has also been done away with and the AC control section has also been minimised, he added.

On being asked how far will so many passengers be comfortable in a reduced area and also having to make do without bed sheets and blankets, Chief Workshop Engineer T P Singh said, "the temperature in the train would be maintained at 26 degree Celsius instead of 24 C in other AC trains." "Also, because of the comfortable temperature, the passengers will not need the linen. So, the exclusion of linen section will not affect the train in any way," Mr Singh noted.

Similarly, in chair cars, the width of the seats has been slightly reduced. These would not have reclining facility so as to provide sufficient leg space to the passengers.

The conventional AC chair car coach has four doors, while the Garib Rath chair car has six doors for ease in boarding and disembarking.

Besides, the train has, for the first time, special provision for accommodating physically challenged people. Wider corridor and toilet have been designed for them besides hand railings being placed conveniently to facilitate their easy movement. The coach has four berths--two for disabled people and two for the attendants, Mr Agarwal said.

The fare for the train will be less by 25 per cent compared to other AC trains. "But, because the number of seats have been increased the railways will still make a profit of 20 per cent.

Also, its basic aim to turn the non-AC travellers to AC trains will be achieved," he added.

Apart from its maiden run from Saharsa (Bihar) to Amritsar, the Garib Rath will also be run on four other routes--Nizammuddin-Patna, Nizammuddin-Bandra (Mumbai) and Nizammuddin-Chennai.

Though the coaches were rated for speeds up to 130 kmph, speed will be maintained depending upon the condition of the track, Mr Singh said.

On further upgrading of the Garib Rath coaches, he said, in future, the capacity would be increased to 81. The height of the coach was proposed to be increased to 4381 mm as against the present 4213 mm.

"This design is in the pipeline and is being sent to the Research and Design Organisation (RDSO) department of the railways for clearance," he added.

After analysing the performance and demand of the pro-poor train once it is introduced early next month, the Railway Minister will give a go-ahead signal for manufacture of more such trains. The successful trial run will decide the future course of action of the other Garib Rath trains. The RCF, till then, is keeping its fingers crossed.

UNI