Mumbai: Now, choose from 3 seating formats in Central Railway

The Central Railway's solution to tackle overcrowding will roll into stations from December 25. CR has modified the seating format of three local train coaches into three different styles over the last 15 days at Matunga workshop to fight the crush hour problem.

Also read: Now, CR to introduce 2+2 seating in regular coaches too

File pic for representation

"These coaches will be introduced to the public from December 25," said Amitabh Ojha, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), CR. Meanwhile, the three old coaches with 2+2 seating shall continue to ply. Based on commuters' view, CR will decide on the seating arrangements for the future.

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For better or worse?
The coaches numbered 1117 have been divided into three styles: 2+2 seating, longitudinal seating similar to that on the Metro, and a third format in which seats near the door have been removed. Sources said the longitudinal and 2+2 formats have been adjusted in one coach, each in one half of the coach.

A separate coach has been created where the seats next to doors have been removed. The third coach is also likely to be similar. "We are trying different things and it is for people to decide what they prefer. There are already three coaches with 2+2 seats and these new seating arrangements will give more options," said a senior CR official.

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If the commuters pick the 2+2 arrangement, three more coaches will be created with the same format to allow more space to enter. The Railways Ministry and CR had also tweeted about the new look of the coaches, adding that they are studying longitudinal seating so that the seating capacity doesn't decr-ease, although they will have to work on the tonnage capacity of the rakes and wheels.