AC coaches could be added to non-AC trains

The Railways are back to discussing the future course of air-conditioned trains that have been running since December 25. Railway officials from Mumbai and Delhi are discussing whether AC coaches can be included in non-AC local trains. The authorities are also working on ways to get more passengers to use AC locals. The authorities have held two meetings in Delhi to discuss  the possibility of ‘mix-and-match’ of coaches.

Some Railway officials feel that the mix and match will be a mistake for technical liabilities. They also say that introducing AC coaches in non-AC trains will cost more than the current AC rake that costs Rs 54 crore. “Managing a single EMU rake having both AC and non-AC is a bad idea. We have seen it in the past when it did not work. AC coaches are a separate class of commuters and it should ideally be run as a single train,” said a senior railway official.