Though the much-touted plan to have a local train of 12 cars divided into two equal parts — half AC and half regular — was a luring proposal, it now seems to be just an idea. Railway authorities claim it's unfeasible to have both AC and non-AC coaches on a single local train. Thus, the idea has been put in cold storage.
"I was toying with this idea for some time but am not fully convinced of its technical viability. Will have to see if it actually works," said Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal during his interaction inside Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express. Goyal had mooted the idea last year owing to demands from passenger associations for the same.
This comes at a time when AC coach manufacturer Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is ready to supply seven fully AC locals which were supposed to be divided into half. This will, in turn, provide 14 half-AC trains. The first such Medha AC local train is expected to come by next week.
According to senior railway officials, a regular local train halts for 15 seconds, while AC local halts for 45-50 seconds at every station. "The trains will lose punctuality if a single 12-car train is divided into both AC and non-AC," said a senior railway official on condition of anonymity.
This will be the first AC local whose electrics and equipment will be underslung below the coach, unlike the present system where it's next to the seats.
These AC locals having vestibule coaches will be the first whose electrics and equipment will be underslung or below the coach, unlike the present system where it's next to the seats. This will result in an increase in the seating capacity by 10 per cent. It also has 6 motors instead of 4 as found in local trains which gives better acceleration.
However, passenger associations feel that if the idea of half-AC and non-AC is withdrawn, it will hurt the prospects of running AC locals successfully. "This would have given commuters an option to travel in AC or non-AC in the same train. Currently, there is a very small percentage of passengers who use the AC local. Demand for AC locals isn't great, it would have been better to run partially AC local trains," said Subhash Gupta, president, Rail Yatri Parishad.
REPERCUSSION
- Passenger bodies feel that if the idea is withdrawn, it will hurt the prospects of running AC locals successfully
- Currently, only a small percentage of passengers use the AC locals
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