Title - Mum-A’bad AC double-decker train likely on tracks in June

Mumbai: A comfortable ride on a double-decker, air-conditioned train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad could be possible as early as June. The trial run of the first such rake on the route has started.
    The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will continue the trial of the fully AC rake for a month and, if all goes well, it could be running between the two cities very soon after that.
    The double-decker coaches will have 70% more passenger carrying capacity than that of Shatabdi chair cars, which seat 78 passengers. The chair car rake has stainless steel body, control discharge toilet system and high-speed design bogies with air springs for superior ride quality.
    A senior official said: “The train will run six days a week, except Sunday. It has a seating capacity of 120 passengers per coach, of which 70 will be on the lower floor. It will have halts at Borivli, Bharuch, Surat, Anand and Vadodara.” ‘More comfort at lower level’
Mumbai: The new fully airconditioned, double-decker rake arrived from Ahmedabad at Mumbai Central on Tuesday. The superfast train was scheduled to run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad before February 2011 but could not because of design flaws. The design had to be modified after the trial on a similar Howrah-Dhanbad train revealed that the coaches grazed the platform surface at many stations.
    Designed by the RDSO and manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, the width of the double-decker coaches on the Howrah-Dhanbad route is 3,123 mm. In the design modification, the railways decided to cut the width of the coaches to be used on other routes to 3,050 mm.
    The train is being tried in speeds ranging from 80-100 kmph to 130 kmph. After the month-long oscillation and route trials, the readings will be submitted to the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
    Western Railway already runs the Flying Ranee—double-decker services from Mumbai Central to Surat—but the coaches are not AC. A senior official said, “Unlike the Flying Ranee, the commuting experience on AC double-decker services will be more comfortable, especially for those sitting at the lower level as they will be shielded from pollution.”
    WR runs 25 services between Mumbai and Ahmedabad; the new service will help ease the burden on the route further.
DOUBLE DELIGHT
Train: Mumbai-Ahmedabad fully airconditioned double-decker superfast
Seats: 120 per coach; 70 will be on lower deck
Number of coaches: 14 Top speed: 110-120 kmph Journey duration: Distance will be covered in around 7 hrs
Timings: Mumbai Central—departure at 2.20pm, arrival at 1.05pm; Ahmedabad—departure at 6am, arrival at 9.30pm
Frequency: All days of the week except Sunday Service from: June