India rolls out first double-decker AC train

The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala city of India's northern Punjab state rolled out Indian Railways' first air-conditioned double-decker train comprising 10 coaches that included eight double-deckers and two power cars. The stainless steel coaches have been introduced to cater to heavy rush of travelers on high-density routes, offering air-conditioned travel at a lower cost. The passenger-carrying capacity has also been increased to 128 passengers in comparison to 78 in chair car bogies that can be seen in trains such as the Shatabdi Express. The new coaches are capable of running at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. They also have several safety features such as fire retardant upholstery on the seats, as well as a crashworthy design. The end-on-generation configuration has been used for train lighting and air-conditioning, in which power is supplied by two power cars, attached at both ends of the train. This train will be run by Eastern Railways, between Howrah in West Bengal and Dhanbad in neighbouring Jharkhand. The overall height of double decker-coaches has been increased marginally by four-and-a-half inches, keeping in view constraints like overhead structures, bridges, electric traction equipment and platforms. The RCF manufactured 30 non-air-conditioned double-decker coaches in 2001 that are presently being run between Pune and Mumbai section.