Soon,new look coaches for Shatabdi Express

The railways is all set to redefine passenger comfort by introducing German-made Linke Holfmann Bush coaches on Shatabdi Express.

The railways is all set to redefine passenger comfort by introducing German-made Linke Holfmann Bush (LHB) coaches on Shatabdi Express. Soon,the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express will don a new look with these coaches. As many as 21 grey-coloured,stylish LHB coaches have already reached the city. According to sources,the exterior of these coaches is painted with neno paint,also called anti- graffiti paint.

Four months ago,this train was listed in the Limca Book of National Records for being the first train in the country to have LCD TV screens inside its coaches.

The railways had introduced a customised entertainment system in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express on March 20,2007,to enable commuters watch programmes of their choice from a wide range of entertainment options with mandatory social service messages on maintaining cleanliness and evils of ticketless journey. At present,there are around 413 LCD screens in the train.

Soon,conventional coaches will be replaced with new LHB coaches,which are more comfortable and luxurious. Twenty one LHB coaches have already come. However,the composition of the train will be the same. Now,Shatabdi has 13 AC cars,including one executive class coach and two generator cars. The remaining coaches will be kept as spare. During summer vacations or on special occasions,these coaches will also be attached to Shatabdi, said WR officials.

The Indian Railways had imported two rakes around 20 coaches from Germany. It has also started manufacturing LHB coaches at the rail coach factory in Kapurthala after the technology transfer.

More LHB coaches may be attached to locomotives as they are lighter and can travel at the speed of 160-200 km per hour. The vertical and horizontal shock absorbers reduce vibrations during travel. The controlled discharge toilet system in these coaches will store the waste generated in the toilets and it will be released only when the train travels at a speed of 30 km per hour. This helps railways maintain cleanliness at railway stations, said a senior railway official.

New tenders will be invited for installing LCD TV screens on LHB coaches, said a WR official.

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CP Sharma,divisional railway manager,Mumbai division,WR,said,It will take some more time for the commissioning of this train. New tenders will be floated to install the LCD TV screens.

Viral Shah,a passenger,who frequently travels to Ahemedabad in Shatabdi Express,said,I have also travelled in Rajdhani Express that has LHB coaches. The experience was far better. LHB coaches are comfortable and without jerks.

Another passenger Ankush Desai,businessman, expressed the same view. Thanks to Western Railway for providing us good services, he said.

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