Ghaziabad: RAPIDX, India’s first regional train service, is set to begin operations on a 17-kilometer section this month. The five stations located along the route are Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and the Duhai Depot.
“Work at all these stations has been completed and they are ready for operations,” said a senior government official.
This section is part of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project.
A maximum speed of 160 kmph is expected for trains on the RRTS.
Along with the priority section, a 42-kilometre viaduct has also been completed between Sahibabad and Meerut South Station.
“A 25 km-long section after Duhai Depot comprising Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North and Meerut South will be the next station to be commissioned after the priority section,” the business daily quoted the official the report.
The construction work on the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System began in June 2019. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is building the RRTS corridor, aims to commission the entire 82 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut stretch , along with Metro services in Meerut, for the public by 2025, the official added.
The project is being built at an estimated cost of ₹30,274 crore. Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and New Development Bank (NDB) are co- financing in the project.
RAPIDX will have a dedicated women’s coach on every train. “Moving in the direction to Meerut from Delhi, the second coach of the train set, i.e. just after the premium coach will be the women’s coach. Whereas while moving to Delhi from Meerut it will be the second last coach of the train i.e. just before the premium coach,” a PTI report said.
The reserved women coach will have a 72 seating capacity. It will also have a diaper-changing facility at every station. Proper signage will also be provided to identify these coaches at the platform level and at the train door openings.
The trains have been named RAPIDX since it is easy to read and pronounce the name in various languages. “In addition to signifying speed and progress, the X in the name denotes next generation technology and the new-age mobility solution. It also represents youth, optimism, and energy,” NCRTC officials said.
The semi-high speed regional rail service across the National Capital Region (NCR) is being developed by the NCRTC, which is a joint venture company of the Centre with the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
