Chennai: In a bid to improvise the train conditions used by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway division (NMR), the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) has designed and developed a new set of steel bodied coaches.
Speaking to News Today, a senior ICF official said, “This is the first time ICF has taken over the task to develop a new set of coaches for Niligiri Mountain Railway Division. Previously, the coaches used here were refurbished and retrofitted repeatedly.”
The official went on to add that Railway Board had ordered ICF to build the new coaches. According to sources, coaches used by the MNR are said to be more than 40 years old. Nilgiri Mountain Railways, a UNESCO Heritage Railways, is one of the oldest railway systems in Indian Railways dating as far as 1899.
ICF officials said that about 15 new coaches will be manufactured. Of these, 12 coaches will make three rakes, comprising one first class, two second class seater and one luggage-cum-passenger car formation. The other three coaches will be used as spare coaches at times when a replacement is required.
The coaches will have a seating capacity for 146 passengers. The first class coach will have 32 seats, while the second class coach will have 44 seats. The second class luggage van (SLR) will have 26 seats. ICF officials informed that the first dispatch of four coaches will shortly reach the Salem Railway Division to begin operations at the NMR section.
| Watch out |
| The latest set of coaches for NMR will have features such as * Large windows for panoramic view * cushioned seats * LED lights * Wheel chair space * Wider door in SLR coach |
| Safety |
| ICF engineers have equipped the coaches with driver-guard-brake man communication system which is a mic-cum-speaker in each coach to ensure communication between the train driver, brakeman, and the guard. |