Now, Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express has smart coaches, better safety

The Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani Express is all set to have a number of advanced features starting December 12. The coaches will now have automatic doors, which will open only at specific stations and prevent hawkers from getting into the train at signal halts. This along with some other features will help in ensuring security and safety of passengers.

Speaking to mid-day, Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer, Sumit Thakur said, "To make travelling more comfortable, Western Railway has decided to replace the coaches of 12953/12954 Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express with that of Tejas-class trains from Mumbai Central with effect from December 12 and from Hazrat Nizamuddin with effect from December 13."

"The new coaches have special smart features for enhanced passenger safety and comfort. They will provide world-class facilities to passengers with the help of intelligent sensor-based systems. It is equipped with the Passenger Information and Coach Computing Unit (PICCU) provided with GSM network connectivity, which reports to the remote server. The PICCU includes CCTV recordings, toilet odour sensors, panic switch and other items integrated with the fire detection and alarm system, air quality and choke filter sensor and energy metre. With the use of these coaches, Indian Railways aims to move towards predictive maintenance instead of preventive maintenance," he added.

Officials said that for enhanced safety of passengers, six cameras have been fitted in each coach. "The CCTV cameras have night vision capability, facial recognition even in low-light condition and network video recorder," he said. He also added that the smart coaches are equipped with automatic plug doors and all the main entrance doors are centralised and controlled by the guard. "The train will not start until all the doors are shut," he said.

Other features of the smart coaches include a fire alarm, detection and suppression system, emergency talk-back for medical or security emergency, panic button in lavatories, toilet annunciation sensor integration, bio-vacuum toilet system, stainless steel under-frame, air suspension coaches, and so on.

The smarter Rajdhani

>>PA/PIS (Passenger Announcement/Passenger Information System): Two LCDs inside each coach will display vital journey-related information such as the next station, distance left, expected time of arrival, delay and safety-related messages.

>>Digital destination board: Flush-type LED digital destination board has been installed in each coach by dividing the displayed data into two rows. The first row displays train number and coach type, while the second one displays text related to destination and intermediate station in multiple languages.

>>Security and surveillance monitoring: Six cameras are fitted in each coach, which give live recording. The CCTV cameras have night vision capability as well as facial recognition even in low-light condition and network video recorder.

>>Automatic plug door: All main entrance doors are centralised and controlled by the guard. Train will not start until all the doors are closed.

>>Fire alarm, detection and suppression system: All coaches are provided with automatic fire alarm and detection system. The pantry and power cars have automatic fire suppression systems.

>>Emergency talk-back: This is for medical or security emergency

>>Improved toilet unit: Provided with anti-graffiti coating, gel-coated shelf, dustbins designed in a new way, door latch activated light and engagement display

>>Toilet occupancy sensor: Automatically displays the toilet occupancy inside each coach

>>Panic button in loos: Fitted in each lavatory, in case of emergency