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ICF to focus on commuter-aided rail coach design

Special Correspondent

"Passengers no longer willing to accept conventional coaches"

CHENNAI: With competition from airlines and road transport becoming tougher every day, the Railways can no longer rest on its laurels, said speakers at a seminar on `Rail coach interior,' organised by the Integral Coach Factory here on Monday, as part of its golden jubilee celebration year.

They said the Railways had to improve their functioning by ensuring not only a safe and comfortable journey but also providing additional passenger comforts.

ICF general manager P. Raja Goundan, who inaugurated the seminar, said passengers were no longer ready to accept conventional coaches. They wanted additional facilities and wanted these to be aesthetically designed. The focus had shifted from computer-aided design to commuter-aided design.

He said the World Bank, which funded the Mumbai suburban project, had prescribed parameters for EMU coaches being supplied by the ICF. Using lightweight materials it was possible to manufacture coaches weighing less. These would help increase the speed of trains.

Mr. Goundan said the ICF had well-established design and development capabilities. It incorporated modifications to the design of coaches and bogies in association with the industry, to accommodate changing customer needs. It also undertook surveys among passengers to obtain a feedback for improving facilities in coaches.

The Loyola Institute of Business Administration, which conducted a study among passengers, found that the quality of food and maintenance of coaches left much to be desired even on the Rajdhani Expresses. Many passengers wanted fire extinguishers, library, safety locker and medical facilities to be made available in coaches.

Railway Board Member (Mechanical) R.R. Bhandari said the suggestions for improvements and modifications suggested by commuters would be considered for future projects.

Some of the recommendations had been implemented. For example, there were more exits in coaches.

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