Mumbai: In a significant development, the Indian Railway is planning to introduce longer Vande Bharat trains with up to 20 coaches. Currently, eight or sixteen coach train sets are operating services in the country. The Railway, now, plans to introduce 20 - coach sets in the busiest routes. However, complaints are rife that other services are getting affected due to the schedule of the Vande Bharat trains. But, when twenty coaches are introduced, in the place of the 8 - coach sets, it would be tantamount to running an additional one and a half trains. Moreover, Vande Bharat trains with a greater number of coaches might even reduce overcrowding. The Railway also hoped that the new train sets would bring additional income.
Vande Bharat sleeper trains
As for the much-awaited Vande Bharat sleeper trains, even though the railway will not significantly change the existing arrangement of coaches in long-distance trains, the sleeper train will be fully air-conditioned. Each of the new trains would have one AC 1, four Second AC and 11 Third AC coaches, with a total capacity of 832 passengers. Having an aerodynamic exterior design, the trains will also flaunt a most modern modular pantry. The doors will be automatic, similar to those in Metro trains. Special berths and washrooms will be available to physically disabled passengers.
Loco pilots also would have a washroom for themselves. Yet another unique facility would be a hot water supply in the washrooms of AC 1 coaches. A public announcement system to alert travellers on the upcoming station, noise insulation in the interiors and an expansive luggage room are among the other attractions which indicate that the standards of the Vande Bharat sleeper train would match those of airlines.
Designers are also making an effort to create a better Vande Bharat, compared to the existing trains. For this purpose, lightweight and rust-proof GFRP panels would be used in the interiors. GFRP – glass fibre reinforced polymer – is a combination material of fibreglass and polyester and has been utilized in the boat-building industry for several years owing to its corrosion-resistant feature.
