AC 3-tier coaches in for a face-lift

New Delhi, Dec 7 (UNI) Passengers travelling in AC three-tier coaches can now look forward to more comfort and facilities as the Railways are going to introduce better and aesthetically designed coaches with increased capacity.

The manufacturing of such coaches as per Linke Hoffman Busch (LHB) had already been started after gaining the technology from M/s. ALSTOM, Mr R Velu, Minister of State for Railways told the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.

These are presently running in a number of Shatabdi and Rajdhani Express services. These coaches have aesthetically pleasing interiors, and higher passenger carrying capacity.

Newly introduced Air Conditioned three Tier coaches for 'Garib Rath' Express Trains have also been designed with a higher passenger carrying capacity of 75 persons as against 64 berths in the conventional Air Conditioned three tier coaches being run on Railways until now.

Two rakes of such coaches have already been manufactured at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala / Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. All passenger amenity items like, snack Tables, bottle holders, mirrors, magazine holders, improved illumination using Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL), mobile charging sockets etc. have been provided and comfort of passengers taken due care of.

Furthermore, by increasing the overall height of the coach shell, a new Air Conditioned three Tier coach design and layout is presently under consideration of the Ministry of Railways. Its capacity was expected to be further enhanced to 81 passengers per coach.

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