New Delhi: Ever since the country’s Railway Minister has become a former IAS, its engineers have also started thinking out of the box. First, railway engineers developed the rolling stock of Vande Bharat from indigenous resources. After that the manufacturing of Vande Ordinary Train started. Then work started on sleeper Vande Bharat. Now it is the turn of the new design of First AC coach. Yes, there are preparations to completely replace this coach also.
Currently, work on the new design of First AC coach is going on at Rail Coach Coach Factory (RCF), the production unit of the Railway Ministry located in Kapurthala, Punjab. At present, almost every good train has a First AC (1st AC) coach. It is being improved by changing its design and work is also going on to increase the number of seats and berths in it. Come, let us know about this…
The brainchild of railway mechanical engineers
Senior railway officials say that now the ticketing pattern is changing in the railways. Earlier, most of the first class coaches used to run empty. Now you will not get a confirmed berth in First AC. People want to have a comfortable and hassle-free journey by spending a little more money. But the problem is that berths can be given to only a limited number of people in a compartment of First AC. Therefore, work is going on to design a compartment which will have more berths than before.
Got inspiration from airplane business class
If you have ever traveled in business class of an airplane on an international route, then you will be able to understand this easily. The business class of the airplane has such comfortable seats that when you sit, it will feel as comfortable as a royal throne. When you feel like sleeping, press the button and open it. That will become a full berth. There is a provision for a TV screen in it, a provision for keeping a water bottle in it, and also for keeping a paper or magazine. This is what has inspired the railway engineers.
Concept design released in RCF Kapurthala
Recently, Rail Coach Factory located in Kapurthala has released the photo of the new concept design of the first AC coach. The specialty of the First AC compartment is that it is a complete room. Two berth and four berth room. If you close the door from inside, no one will disturb you. Therefore, two-berth coupes are in greater demand. In the new design coach, all the coupes will have two berths only.
Corridor plan will change
At present, the first AC coach has a compartment on one side and a corridor on the other side. In this way the side of the window remains blank. Whereas window seats or berths are in greater demand. In the new design, there will be a corridor not on any side but in the middle. There will be coupes on both sides. In this way, all the berths of the coupe will get the facility of window so that during the journey, they can keep seeing the view of the village, city and town outside.
Number of berths will increase
At present, the First AC coaches that are running have a total of 24 berths. In the new design, two berth coupes will be made on both sides of the coach towards the window. In this way, eight coupes will be made on one side and seven on the other side. If a total of 15 coupes will be made, the number of berths in the same compartment will increase to 30. A linen store will be built in place of a compartment so that blankets, sheets, pillows etc. can be stored there. More berths in a compartment means more earning opportunity for the Railways.
The coupe seat will be great
Railway officials say that the bottom two seats in the coupe will be very comfortable. When you feel like sitting, make it a seat and sit. When it’s night or you feel like sleeping even during the day, open the seat and make a berth. There is a window next to the berth. Enjoy the outside view while lying down. With this new design, more people will be able to travel comfortably in these coaches.
Facilities will increase
At present there is no provision of TV screen in the First AC coach of the Railways. In the concept design of the first AC released by the Railways, a TV screen is also seen installed on the wall in front of the berth. Streaming of OTT platform is also happening in it. This means that there will also be a provision for Wi-Fi in the compartment. Similarly, many new things have been shown around the seat. This means that in the coming days, First AC travel will become more comfortable and pleasant.
