Eastern Railway To Soon Rollout Affordable Air Conditioned Suburban Train Services: Report

Eastern Railway is likely to soon roll out an air-conditioned suburban train service on the Sealdah-Ranaghat route, offering an affordable way to beat the heat, the Indian Express reported.

Trials are currently underway using the first AC Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train received from Integral Coach Factory, Chennai. A second rake is expected to arrive soon.

The fare structure has been designed to remain highly economical.

Passengers will reportedly be charged just Rs 29 for trips up to 10 km and Rs 37 for 11 to 15 km.

Monthly season tickets are also competitively priced at Rs 590 and Rs 780, respectively.

“Initially, it is believed that AC travel will be very costly, but Indian Railways has introduced a fair scheme which is much more competitive and in comparison to roadways, it is almost 10 times cheaper,” Uday Shankar Jha, Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Eastern Railway was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The 12-coach train is built with stainless steel and includes sealed vestibule gangways for free movement, four electrically-operated sliding doors per side, three-seater steel benches, and upgraded air circulation systems for around 1,100 passengers.

Other features include CCTV surveillance, rubber flooring, modular luggage racks, GPS-based passenger information displays, and large double-sealed windows for enhanced comfort.

Jha said, “It is a matter of great pride that the eastern part of the country, Eastern Railway, is taking the lead to introduce ACAMU services.”

He added that the air-conditioned coaches would ease the “extreme heat, extreme rush, and so many other related discomforts” faced by suburban commuters.

Jha explained that the new service would allow passengers to commute from home to the office in a more comfortable environment.

He added that the improved seating and enhanced air circulation would even enable passengers to carry out office work during their journey, offering them a dual benefit.

Commercial services will begin after the trial phase concludes.

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