RCF Plans To Launch Vande Metro Prototype By April

RCF’s Project: Vande Metro Coach Prototype Set for April

• The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) aims to roll out the first prototype of the Vande Metro coach by April.
• A total of 16 such coaches are expected to be ready by the later part of the 2024-25 financial year.
• The Vande Metro is designed on the concept of India’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train, Vande Bharat, catering to intercity passengers covering distances of up to 250 km.
• Each Vande Metro train will consist of 16 air-conditioned coaches and can run at a maximum speed of 130 km per hour.

Features and Innovations

• Vande Metro coaches will enhance passenger experience and accessibility, with each coach capable of carrying 280 passengers (100 seating capacity and 180 standing capacity).
• The 3×3 bench-type seating arrangement maximizes passenger capacity for a comfortable medium-distance commute.
• Coaches will be equipped with a passenger talkback system for communication with the train driver in case of emergencies.
• Each coach will feature 14 sensors for fire and smoke detection.
• Wheelchair-accessible lavatories will be available in coaches.
• The Kavach system will be installed to prevent collisions.
• Wide gangways between coaches will provide a smooth walk-through in the train.
• Windows and doors are designed for safety and convenience, with wider openable hopper-type windows for emergency situations and automatic plug doors at the entrance for touch-free operation.

RCF’s Continued Innovation

• RCF rolled out 24 special Rajdhani sleeper coaches in December, equipped with hot water facilities in lavatories.
• Another rake of 24 coaches will be rolled out in March, with two more rakes ready in the next financial year.
• Trials for Vistadome coaches for the heritage Kalka-Shimla route have been successfully completed.
• RCF plans to manufacture 30 more Vistadome coaches in the next financial year after safety clearance.
• A double-decker cargo liner coach, capable of carrying 46 passengers and six tonnes of load, is currently on trial on the Ambala-Sahnewal section.

Legacy of Excellence

• RCF, a coach manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, has built over 43,000 coaches since its inception in 1988.
• With a commitment to innovation and passenger-centric design, RCF is poised to shape the future of rail travel in India.