Title - Western Railway’s 1st power-saving train to run today

Western Railway (WR) will run its first pure Alternating Current (AC) train on Christmas day.

Expected to save electricity, the train, which was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, has one major difference from the earlier trains. Unlike suburban trains in which the electric motors are in the second, fifth, eighth and eleventh coaches, this new AC train will have these motors in the first, fifth, eighth and twelfth coaches.

From Tuesday, WR authorities will be trying to find out how commuters — especially women — take to this change.

This change in the location of the electric motors, however, means that the first coach, which is a women’s compartment will get divided into two because of the motor being placed in between.

Moreover, this would also mean that two constables will be needed to guard the ladies compartment as against the one constable usually posted.

“We want women to give us feedback in large numbers so that we can decided on whether to continue with this set up [of the women’s compartment being divided into two] or shift the women’s compartment to the second coach,” said Mahesh Kumar, general manager of the WR.

The number that they can send the feedback to is 9004477777.

WR officials said the overall composition of the train increases the seating capacity to 1,242 from the present 1,174 in a 12 car rake. The total seating capacity of 24 hour second class women’s compartments has been increased to 170 from existing 159.

A WR statement said as a considerable number of high-tension power equipment has been shifted to the train’s lower frame, it has created more space inside compartments.