Yuva trains to have double-decker AC coaches

With a view to cater to the needs of students in the country, Indian railways is planning to introduce AC double-decker coaches in the new 'Yuva' trains, which would run at the speed of 150km per hour.

Preparations are afoot to start the Howrah-New Delhi Yuva Express and Bandra Terminus-Hazrat Nizamuddin Yuva Express shortly on a pilot basis, said a senior rail ministry official.

While the Howrah Yuva will leave from New Delhi station at 4.10pm on Sunday and arrive in Howrah the next day at 10.40am, the Mumbai Yuva will depart from Nizamuddin station on Saturday at 3.50pm and reach Bandra Terminus the next day at 8.20am.

The modalities of Yuva are being worked out, he said.

Being developed at rail coach factory in Kapurthala, the new AC double-decker will be six inches taller than the existing ones running between Mumbai-Pune and Surat-Mumbai.

The double-decker coaches will be equipped with chair cars for seating arrangements like Shatabdi trains, said the official.

There will be a total of 108 seats in the coach and the entire double-decker will be air conditioned to prevent dust entering the lower deck, which will be levelled with the platform, said the official.