Double-decker Coaches - A century back and now
The evolution of the 'two storied' coaches which made its first appearance over 156 years ago.
By Rail Enthusiasts' Society
Author: JL Singh
After the introduction of Railways in India in 1853, once the local population realised the social and economic benefits of it, they actively took to rail travel. The advantages of train travel were soon appreciated and volumes grew rapidly.
On the Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway (BB&CI), soon after the opening of the Bombay – Baroda line, a ‘two storied’ third class coach was tried out in 1862. The coach had a capacity of 120 passengers with 70 seats below and 50 on the upper storey.
In the 1980s, an effort was made to introduce ordinary second class double decker chair cars for some busy inter-city routes. These coaches were not very successful, mainly because the windows of the lower deck coaches were very low and the intake of dust was a nuisance.
A sectional sketch of the present double decker coachRail Enthusiasts' Society
The real revival of the double decker coaches took place 150 years after the BB&CI's initiative, with the introduction of air-conditioned double decker coaches.
A new shell design was developed in 2010, which was introduced in commercial service between Howrah and Dhanbad the following year. A design known as 'Mark I' was developed subsequently, which was in service on the Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes.
An air-conditioned double decker coachRail Enthusiasts' Society
It is interesting to note that the capacity of the new AC double decker coach is similar to the four-wheeler ‘two storied’ coaches of 1864. But the seating and comfort level of modern coaches is much superior.
An air-conditioned double decker coachRail Enthusiasts' Society
The new AC Double Decker services have, in recent years, been introduced on a number of additional routes, including Delhi-Lucknow, Chennai-Bangalore, Kacheguda-Tirupati and Kacheguda-Guntur.
A water fountain in the double decker coachRail Enthusiasts' Society
The passenger feedback of these double decker trains has been good with respect to amenities and comforts on board.
Author: JL Singh
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