AC locals may be fitted with sun blinders

It appears that the Western Railway is contemplating one of the first additions to the air-conditioned (AC) local since it began operations on December 25. WR authorities are planning to have sun blinders on the large windows of the AC local.

Sources said that in the last couple of days, they have been inspecting the coaches from the inside, while they were running. "We saw that sunlight entering inside the coach was affecting the cooling. So we are contemplating having sun blinders on the windows," said a WR official on condition of anonymity.

The railway officials also spoke to the commuters travelling inside the AC local who told them that sunlight was an issue as it warmed the atmosphere inside the train. The AC local has huge and wide glass windows and during summer it might become even more uncomfortable for commuters to travel.

"We will try to incorporate suggestions from people that are doable," said Ravindra Bhakar, Chief PRO, Western Railway.

These sun blinders - most likely the collapsable ones - will be called through tenders. There are around five to six windows in each coach in the 12-car train. At present, the AC in the local is kept at a temperature of 22 degrees, but because of the sunlight, the staff are being asked to further lower the temperatures. During each journey, the railway staff keeps monitoring the AC machine to check the temperature and other details.

Currently, the WR have placed their staff to constantly monitor the working of the AC, door closing mechanisms, addressing issues of chain pulling and other technical issues arising during the train's operations. Meanwhile, a certain section of commuters is unhappy with the AC train as its operations have replaced the existing services.

"The Services of AC local launched with much fanfare at the cost of hardship for more than 50,000 passengers. These have been inconvenienced due to the disruption of the regular local trains plying on a schedule that has been given to AC locals," said Anil Galgali, commuter activist.

During train operations, many first-class commuters keep asking the RPF and railway staff if they can board the AC local. 

Sources in the WR said that they wanted the fares of First Class and AC local at par but the Railway Board in Delhi decided to have a higher slab for AC local. The AC train is currently being operated on a trial period between Churchgate and Borivli. Six services will be operated on the entire stretch until December 29 and it shall go for maintenance this weekend.