DELHI – JAIPUR DOUBLE DECKER TRAIN

The bilevel car or double-decker coach is a type of rail car that has two levels of passenger accommodation, as opposed to one, increasing passenger capacity. In some countries such vehicles are commonly referred to as dostos, derived from the German Doppelstockwagen.
The use of double-decker carriages, where feasible, can resolve capacity problems on a rail, avoiding other options which have an associated infrastructure cost: such as longer trains; more trains per hour; or adding extra tracks besides the existing line.
On October 1, 2011, India’s first AC double-decker train was flagged off to connect Howrah and Dhanbad. With this India joins the league of Europe and North America that run multi-deck trains. It has a maximum permissible speed of 110 kilometers (68 mi). This new AC design has several features namely stainless steel body, high-speed Eurofima design bogies with air springs and other safety-features.
Rail passengers travelling between Jaipur and Delhi have one more reason for celebration on 66th Independence Day. After a long wait the elusive double-decker air-conditioned train is all set to have its maiden run.
The much-awaited AC double-decker train will be flagged off by Railway Minister Mukul Roy on August 16 from Sarai Rohilla station.
As the fully air-conditioned double decker wagons for train are waiting the maiden run at the Delhi cantonment railway station, authorities of North Western Railways are geared up to give ‘green signal’ on 16 August.
The service was announced by former rail minister Mamata Banarjee in her Budget for 2011-12.
According to the officials, the train has completed test-run successfully and all the required technical clearances are over.
The double-decker trains are designed indigenously by Research Development and Standard Organisation and have been developed by the Kapurthala rail coach factory.
The train would have 13 coaches with a sitting capacity of 120 passengers in each coach. The lower floor of the double-decker has a capacity of 70 passengers while the upper floor has an in-take capacity of 50 passengers.
The double-decker train is going to replace the Jaipur-Delhi non-stop special and would have Gurgaon, Delhi Cant and Delhi Sarai Rohilla as its halt stations.
The fare from Jaipur to Gurgaon would be Rs 327. For Jaipur to Delhi cantonment, it would be Rs 337 and the journey from Jaipur to Delhi Sarai Rohilla would cost Rs 347. The train will run from Jaipur at 6 am and from New Delhi at 4:30 pm daily.
The Minister of Railways, Shri Mukul Roy and Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit flagged off the AC Double Decker train between Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Jaipur from Delhi Sarai Rohilla station on 16 August. The Minister of State for Railways, Shri K. H. Muniyappa, Mayor of M.C.D., Smt. Meera Aggarwal and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, according to Shri Mukul Roy AC Double Decker coach which has been designed in-house and manufactured at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, a Production Unit of Indian Railways is a noteworthy achievement.
A beautifully decorated train left from at 17:35 hours from Delhi Sarai Rohilla and reached Jaipur at 22:05 hours.
The train is running regularly since August 25, 2012. Moreover, the Jaipur-Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC double decker train will leave from Jaipur at 6:00 hours to reach Delhi Sarai Rohilla station.
The train contains all chair cars and has the capacity of sitting 120 passengers in each coach. No of seats in each deck are:
Upper Deck: 50
Lower Deck: 48
On ends: 22
The coaches have been fully designed at Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala. As far as designing of coach is concerned the adjustment of size has been done in the lower portion of the trains as it was not possible to increase the height of the coaches due to old railway bridges.
The design of the Double Decker coaches was a mighty challenge for the Railways as the entire Rail network and coach designs need to meet standard dimensions in length, breadth and height as per bridges, overhead electricity wire, tunnels, etc. It is not feasible to either enhance the width of the coach or increase its height. In keeping with these limitations, the railway officials worked out the design to enable accommodation of 120 passengers in the new coaches instead of 78 passengers in the existing chair cars of Shatabdi type. This makes the air-conditioned Double Decker production a major achievement. More Passengers can thus travel at most reasonable costs with the comfort of air-conditioned travel. In keeping with the safety of the services, the coaches are designed with anti-climbing technology and have crash-worthy shells. Through the air springs in these coaches, passengers can derive greater ease and comfortable in travel.
The coaches are manufactured keeping in view passenger safety and comfort. Every coach of the train will have mini-pantry, fridge, microwave and other amenities.
The train is so designed that the coaches will not pile up in an accident – a first in India. Capable of travelling at 160kmph, the train has a special air suspension for a smooth ride. Each of these coaches costs Rs 3 crore.