Minister aims to improve travel experience
Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared with parliament (Lok Sabha) plans to manufacture 260 rakes of Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets based on demand and operational readiness.
“To improve travel experience of the passengers and set new benchmarks in terms of safe and comfortable journey, these train sets have been provided with modern coaches having advanced safety features and passenger amenities,” he said in a written reply to the house on 4 Feb.
The features and amenities are:
• Jerk-Free Semi permanent couplers and Anti Climbers
• Fitted with KAVACH.
• Higher acceleration with design/operating speed of 180/160 KMPH.
• Crashworthy Design of Car body complying with EN standards.
• Fire barrier doors at the end of each coach for compliance of fire safety standards.
• Improved fire safety – Aerosol based fire detection and suppression system in electrical cabinets and lavatories.
• Regenerative braking system for energy efficiency.
• Air conditioning units provided with indigenously developed UV-C lamp-based disinfection system for deactivating 99 % harmful bacteria from conditioned air to improve the hygiene standards inside the passenger area.
• Centrally controlled Automatic Plug Doors and Fully Sealed wider gangways.
• CCTVs in all coaches.
• Emergency talk-back unit for communication between Passenger and Train Manager/Loco Pilot in case of emergency.
• For Divyangjan passengers, special lavatory in the driving coaches on each end.
• Centralized Coach Monitoring System for better condition monitoring of passenger amenities such as Air conditioning, Saloon Lighting etc.
• Ergonomically designed ladder for ease of climbing on to upper berths.
The process of development of new rolling stocks like Vande Sleeper necessitates a holistic approach, combining technological innovation, strategic planning and manufacturing to ensure a safe, reliable and comfortable travel, he explained. “This involves development of prototype, extensive testing and trials followed by series production.” Fiinews.com
