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Key Points

Eastern Railway is rolling out AC suburban trains to make commutes more comfortable for Kolkata passengers. The Sealdah-Ranaghat route will be the first to get these modern trains with fares starting at just Rs 29. These stainless steel coaches come packed with amenities like automatic doors, CCTV surveillance, and GPS displays. The move marks a significant upgrade for daily commuters seeking affordable air-conditioned travel.

Key Points: Eastern Railway Launches Affordable AC Suburban Trains in Kolkata

  • AC EMU trains with fares from Rs 29 for short distances
  • Stainless steel coaches with CCTV surveillance
  • Sealdah-Ranaghat route prioritized for new service
  • Features include automatic doors and GPS-based displays
3 min read

Eastern Railway announces introduction of AC suburban services at affordable cost

Eastern Railway introduces AC EMU suburban services with fares starting at Rs 29, enhancing commuter comfort on Sealdah-Ranaghat route.

"All the coaches of these trains will be fully Air-Conditioned... to give the feeling of freshness. – Eastern Railway Press Release"

Kolkata, June 18

To fulfil the growing requirements of suburban passengers, Eastern Railway is preparing to run Air Conditioned Electric Multiple Unit (AC EMU) locals soon, Eastern Railway said in a press release.

One such AC EMU train constructed in the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, has already arrived in the Eastern Railway and has been sent to Sealdah Division for testing & trial run. Another AC EMU rake will also shortly arrive in the Eastern Railway jurisdiction.

On the basis of the present utilisation pattern, it has been decided that the new AC EMU train that is sent to Sealdah Division will run on the Sealdah - Ranaghat route. The Indian Railways has rationalised the fare of AC EMU Suburban train services to bring it to the affordable limit of the commuters. The single journey suburban base fare of AC EMU trains will be only Rs 29 for a journey upto 10 km & base fare of Rs 37 for journey distance between 11 km to 15 km, and so on. Charges for corresponding monthly season ticket (MST) will be Rs 590 and Rs 780, respectively, and so on.

The salient technical features of these AC EMU rakes are as follows:

"All the coaches of these trains will be fully Air-Conditioned. The coaches are made of Stainless steel bodies with straight side walls. All the 12 coaches of the rake are end-to-end connected by sealed wider vestibule gangways. The coaches have been provided with better air circulation inside the coaches to give the feeling of freshness. It has more standing space and includes a vestibule area. Passengers can also travel inside the train from one coach to another easily through vestibules," the press release said.

All the AC EMU coaches have 04 electrically operated double-leaf automatic sliding doors on each side. The coaches have wide and large double-sealed glass windows providing a panoramic view. 3 seater stainless steel seats are provided in all the coaches. The total seating capacity of the rake is approximately 1100. All the coaches are covered by CCTV surveillance. Wear-resistant rubber floor top, Aluminium extruded modular luggage rack & GPS-based LED displays for passenger information and announcement system are provided in each coach of the rake to enhance passenger amenity and comfort.

The doors of the train will open only after arriving at stations and will close before departing from the stations and remain closed while on run for safety reasons. The control of the door will remain with the Driver/Guard, who will operate the doors of the train compartments.

The new AC EMU trains, which arrive in the Sealdah Division, will surely satisfy the expectations of the passengers and initiate a new era of a cosy journey experience at a very affordable price.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun M.
Finally! AC locals at affordable prices in Kolkata. The summers here are brutal, and regular locals feel like saunas. ₹29 for 10km is a steal compared to cabs. Hope they maintain the cleanliness and punctuality though. 🤞
P
Priya K.
As a daily commuter on Sealdah-Ranaghat route, this is fantastic news! But I hope they increase frequency too - one AC train won't be enough for the crowd. The CCTV and automatic doors sound like great safety features for women travelers.
R
Rahul B.
Good initiative but ₹590 monthly pass is still expensive for daily wage workers. Railways should consider graded pricing - full AC comfort for those who can pay, but don't reduce non-AC options for common people. Development should be inclusive.
S
Sneha G.
The features sound world-class! 😍 Stainless steel bodies, panoramic windows, GPS displays - feels like Metro standards at suburban prices. Hope this becomes a model for other cities too. Mumbai locals could really use this upgrade!
D
Debashis N.
Automatic doors controlled by driver is a concern. What if someone gets stuck? In Delhi Metro, doors reopen if obstructed. Also, 1100 capacity seems less for Kolkata's crowds. Hope they've considered peak hour rush.
M
Mousumi R.
As a senior citizen, the AC and comfortable seats will be a blessing during doctor visits to Kolkata. But please ensure proper maintenance - we've seen how regular trains deteriorate quickly. Regular cleaning and timely repairs are must!

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