Kolkata: The first AC local train in Eastern India and the country’s second air conditioned local train will soon run from Kolkata.
The AC rake that was manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai will reach Kolkata this week itself. And if all goes according to the plan, this 12 coach AC rake will start running in the Sealdah subdivision in the next few months.
The fares, though yet to be fixed, will be at least 7-10 times higher than the current fares at the normal local trains.
According to Deepak Nigam, DRM, Sealdah Division, the project is still awaiting the final clearance from the railway board and railway headquarters.
The main aim is to obviously get the training before the summer peaks. However, if the reception is encouraging among passengers, more AC rakes will be planned for Sealdah, one of the busiest railway divisions in the country.
The steel-bodied passenger-friendly rake will be able to carry 1100 passengers. There will be comfortable passenger seats with aluminium racks next to keep the luggage.
