New handlebar to provide better grip

Commuters on the suburban railway trains have something to rejoice about. The new set of rakes that arrived in the city on Wednesday have been modified and changed in order to make travelling more safe and secure for citizens.

The bar at the door, which commuters hold on to for support, has been shifted inside. There is no bar at the door anymore, which means people won't be standing at the footboard and leaning out, endangering their lives.

Modified: The handlebar at the door has been shifted inside, so commuters do not lean outside the rakeu00a0

This is a major deterrent to those addicted to performing stunts and travelling dangerously at the entrance of the coach. Also, the bar has changed from a single rod shape to an oval-shaped bar.

Officials say this will provide a better grip. The new set of rakes will be deployed on the Western suburban line by next month. These trains can clock up to 130 kmph and has an increased load-bearing capacity to accommodate more passengers.

The trains, which came from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, will be powered by the Bombardier transportation electrical system.

"We have been working on many aspects to decrease accidents that take place in the running trains sometimes due to overcrowding. We are hoping that the new pink trains will help us in controlling the mishaps,and also to provide better facilities to commuters," said a senior WR official, on condition of anonymity.

The trains have been painted pink to hide the paan stains left behind by travelers. The seats are also more comfortable, the official added.

Sharat Chandrayan, Chief PRO, Western Railway, said, "The new train has many facilities for passengers. This will help in decreasing accidents as more passengers can hold on to the door handle, which is placed away from the door. It is also a modern, state-of-the-art design."

The cons
The new trains also have ventilation on top. This facility of forced ventilation can actually turn out to be a bane for passengers during monsoons. These vents, found on the roof next to the fans, will have water leaking in during the heavy rains. This is a major cause of concern for commuters. u00a0