Title - Double-decker trains to run on Jaipur-Delhi route soon

Jaipur: A comfortable ride on a double-decker, air-conditioned train between Jaipur and New Delhi could soon be possible. The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has given it a no objection certificate (NOC), and the North Western Railway (NWR) is set to write to Commissioner of Railway Safety for clearance to make the train operational.

It is expected that the maiden run of the train will start from May 20. The double decker train will replace Jaipur-Delhi non-stop special train.

The German LMB design train with AC chair-car coaches was manufactured by the Railway Coach Factory in Kapurthala. The 15-coach train comprises 13 double-decker AC chair-car coaches and two electric power cars. Each chair-car comprises 120 seats — 48 seats on the lower deck, 50 on upper deck, six near Door 1 and 16 near Door 2. Every coach has 10 emergency exit windows.

There will be 1,560 seats in — 67 per cent more than Shatabdi Express train presently connecting Ajmer with New Delhi. “Also, the comfort quotient of these coaches will be at least 1.5 times more than Shatabdi,” sources in the NWR said, adding that the train will have better catering facility.

As per the time table announced in July 2011, it will depart daily from Jaipur at 6 am and reach Delhi Sarai Rohilla at 10.30 am. It will return from Delhi at 5.35 pm and reach Jaipur at 10.05pm and halts briefly at Delhi Cantonement and Gurgaon.

But it remains to be seen when the double-decker would make its first journey from Jaipur to Delhi.

“Several safety tests have been performed. After getting clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, the train will become operational,” an NWR official said.