RailEnquiry

The train with 16 air-conditioned coaches fully loaded with wealth of information on mysteries of science, Science Express – Bio-diversity Special (SEBS), will chug into the Coimbatore Junction on Tuesday.

The train is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment and Forests in partnership with Centre for Environment Education – Ahmedabad and Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre. Divisional Railway Manager, Salem, Sujatha Jeyaraj and District Collector M. Karunagaran are scheduled to inaugurate the exhibition on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

People can visit the train on platform number 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Entry for the Science Express will be only from the western side entrance of the junction (Goods Shed Road side). Th train has various features including a kids’ zone for students from Standard 1 to 5.

Of the 16 coaches, 8 are supported by Ministry of Environment and Forests solely dedicated for showcasing the myriad bio-diversity spread across the bio-geographical zones of India including Trans-Himalaya and the Himalayas, Gantetic Plain, North East India, Desert and Semi-Arid Zone, Western Ghats, Deccan Peninsula, Coasts and Islands.

One coach has an exhibition on climate change, bio-diversity and water, green technologies supported by the Swiss embassy. The train also has the popular Joy of Science (JOS) lab in a dedicated coach where students can perform experiments to understand the concepts in environment, science and mathematics. There will be a discussion centre-cum-training facility for orientation of teachers accompanying the students.

Items banned

People should not have in possession mobile phone, camera, bag, beedis, match box, cigarettes, tobacco and sharp objects when entering the train. The Railway Police and Railway Protection Force are taking measures to regulate the visitors.

The Coimbatore City Police had drawn up a separate bandobust scheme to ensure smooth movement of visitors and also traffic on the Goods Shed Road side, said A.K. Viswanathan, City Police Commissioner.

Institutions wanting to bring their students could register with the SEBS staff on board the train by sending an e-mail toscienceexpress@gmail.comor contact 094284-05407. For participation in JOS lab or teachers' training, e-mail could be sent tovascsc.jos@gmail.comor contact 094284-05408.


People can visit the train on platform number 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday