The National Capital Regional Transport Corporation (NCRTC) unveiled India’s first semi-high speed rapid rail for the Delhi to Meerut corridor on Wednesday, March 16. The train will ply on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor and cover the 82 km distance in less than an hour. With this rapid rail, it will be for the first time in India that there is a business or ‘premium’ coach on a regional corridor.
The new Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train carries a modern and aerodynamic design. Also, the inside of the train is specifically designed to provide a good travelling experience to passengers. The train was manufactured in phases and phase 1 began in 2021. At present, the train is in the testing and trial phase which is likely to be completed by year-end.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Vinay Kumar, Managing Director of NCRTC said, “Since the inception of the RRTS project, commuter convenience has been our priority. The entire infrastructure, be it trains or stations, has been designed to ensure safety, ease of access and comfort for commuters so that it will become the people’s first choice.”
How’s the RRTS Train?
The train has six coaches with a total of 407 seats, however, it has a capacity to carry 1500 passengers at once. The interiors of the train resemble the inside of an aircraft. Meanwhile, the premium coach features reclining seats with more legroom, coat hangers and a vending machine. The train will offer 2×2 transverse seatings with wide-open space for passengers to stand. The seats will have charging sockets for mobile, laptops and overhead luggage rack will also be there for the convenience of the passengers. Apart from this, there will be dynamic route maps, auto control ambient lighting system, heating ventilation and air conditioning system, and other amenities. For easy entry and exit of passengers, the train coaches have three doors. Train operators will be present to oversee operations despite the fact that the trains are automated.
The train is capable of running at thrice the speed of a metro. However, the average speed of the train is 100 km per hour and a maximum speed of 160 km per hour.
The RRTS train is expected to ply on the Delhi-Meerut corridor by March 2023, covering five stations between Sahibabad in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh o Duhai in Uttar Pradesh.
