Central Railway to introduce local with only second class coaches

The new train will start from its manufacturers Integral Coach Factory, Chennai this month, an official said.

The Central Railway (CR) is planning to introduce a local train with only second class coaches in order to accommodate its first air-conditioned (AC) local on the trans-harbour line between Thane-Vashi and Panvel.

"The new train will start from its manufacturers Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and is likely to arrive by month-end. If everything goes according to plan, then it will be introduced by December this year," Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, CR, said.

Divisional officials said since the sector is saturated, CR intends to run it on the trans-harbour line and the idea is to convert first-class into second class from one of the trains and compensate it with an AC local, adding that the train has BHEL electricals and is a full 12-car AC train that cannot be split unlike the Medha-class locals that have arrived on Western Railway.

The new AC train has several features, including wider gangways for more people to walk and stand, improved luggage racks among others. It also has a talkback mechanism, a first for local trains, where commuters in emergency can contact the train guard.

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