RCF develops high-speed AC 3-tier economy coach

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, March 1

High-speed oscillation trials of Indian Railways for a new 83-berth AC 3-tier economy coach developed by Rail Coach Factory (RCF) here were successfully conducted in loaded condition at a speed of 180 kmph.

The trials of the coach were held in Nagda-Kota-Sawai Madhopur section and desirable results have been attained, said a spokesperson of the RCF. In this new high-capacity passenger coach, where modern passenger amenities have been taken to a new peak, the passenger capacity has been increased to 83 berths as compared to existing 3-tier capacity of 72 berths. Several design improvements have also been made for improving passenger comfort like redesign of the AC ducting to provide individual AC vents for each berth, providing improved and modular design of berths and ergonomically-designed ladder for accessing the middle and upper berths, etc.

Giving details, RCF PRO Jitesh Kumar, said, “The design has been improved for both Indian and the Western style lavatories. Each coach is provided with a wider and one disabled-friendly toilet entry door, which is a new initiative. Public address and passenger information systems have also been installed as a part of passenger facilities in these coaches. Ambience and ease of access into coach has been improved by aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic entrance. The interior of the coach has luminescent aisle markers, illuminated berth indicators integral with night lights with luminescent berth numbers. There is also improved fire safety by ensuring compliance to world benchmark of EN45545-2 HL3 for materials, thus meeting the high requirements of the new fire protection standard.”

RCF Kapurthala has started keeping all resources in-hand for regular production of these high-capacity AC 3-tier economy class coaches and has planned to roll out its first rake by this month. RCF has production plan of 248 coaches in current and next fiscal years.