Infrastructure
Safety First: RAPIDX Trains To Reserve Second Coach For Women
A RAPIDX train. (Representative image)
The second coach of RAPIDX — the rapid rail between Delhi and Meerut — will be reserved for women to ensure a safe and comfortable travel for them.
The reserved coach will have a seating capacity of 72 and will be over and above the additional 10 seats reserved for women in other coaches of the train.
"India's first regional rail RAPIDX will have a dedicated women's coach on every train. We have been working tirelessly to improve accessibility and to ensure a secure and smooth travel for women," said an official of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is executing the project.
The idea behind having a reserved coach is to create an environment where women felt secure travelling in the public mode of transport, whether alone or with a companion.
On Lines Of Delhi Metro
The Delhi Metro, since 2010, has reserved the first coach of the train for women. The reserved ladies’ coach is the first after the driver’s cab in every train.
With this, Delhi Metro became the second metro in the world to reserve special coaches for women after the Dubai new age transport system.
Other Novel Features
Some of the special features on the train include:
The first coach of the RAPIDX train will be a premium coach. It will be equipped with many modern amenities, including comfortable cushioned reclining seats, mobile and laptop charging ports, luggage racks, and magazine holders, among others.
A train attendant will be stationed in the premium coach in every RAPIDX train, to assist the commuters in need.
Platform screen doors (PSDs) at every station.
Dedicated space for wheelchairs/stretchers in the train and lifts at every station.
RAPIDX stations will showcase the blue and beige colours of the peacock feather, drawing inspiration from the national bird.
In order to access the business coach at the platform level of the station, dedicated automatic fare collection (AFC) gates will be installed separately. Passengers opting for ordinary coaches will need to tap and enter the AFC gate located on the concourse. This is the first time in the country that a double-tap system is being used in any public transportation system.
