Suburban trains in Chennai to get AC coaches soon
Officials said that SR is likely to be allotted two rakes soon.
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The air-conditioned EMU is a slightly tricky subject as far...
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as passenger response, say officials. Firstly, the fare is 1.3 times higher than the first-class fare. For instance, a journey that costs Rs 5 in second class and Rs 40 in the first class, would cost Rs 55. This would get progressively higher for longer journeys.
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A section of railway officials wondered if the commuters in Chennai, who have rejected even the air-conditioned buses operated by MTC, would be willing to travel on AC suburban trains.
“The suburban trains are used by the poorest of the poor, traders, school and college students who study on a scholarship and workers struggling to make ends meet. They may not prefer this,” an official said.
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The second discussion among officers focussed on operational constraints. Since the AC EMUs would have automatic doors akin to a metro rail, the train would have to stop for at least 80 seconds at every station. Currently, the suburban trains stop only for about 20-30 seconds at every station.
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“were keen to bring the rake to Chennai if the AC EMUs could be run on the fast lines of Chennai Beach-Chengalpet with limited stops. It is altogether another issue that fast locals have not been restored on the sections by Chennai division.