Back
New Delhi
Coming Soon: New and improved metro coaches under production in Germany. NEW DELHI: The swanky new metro coaches that will soon roll out in the City will offer commuters more comfortable travel with less noise and more facilities. The 131 new coaches that have been ordered by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in view of the increased rush on the metro system will provide passengers with power connections inside the coaches. “These power connections will allow commuters to use their laptops and charge their mobile phones while they are travelling on the metro. Every new metro coach of Phase-II will have power supply points for this purpose,” said a DMRC official. The metro coaches in Phase-II will also have reduced noise levels inside the trains. “Major design changes have been adopted to reduce the noise levels by use of special sound absorbing cushions in the walls of the metro coaches and more buffing on the metro doors, which will be better sealed by reducing the door gaps to ensure that less sound from outside enters the trains thus enabling the passengers to travel in a better ambience,” the official added. The noise level in the underground coaches has been reduced by 8 decibels(db). DMRC officials said, a new type of compressor called “scroll compressor system” will be used in the air-conditioners of the Phase-II coaches, which will reduce noise level in the coaches further. “The Phase-II metro coaches will also provide a much better level of passenger comfort as for the first time there will be humidity control as ‘humidity sensors’ have been installed. While the temperature will be maintained at 25 degree Celsius, relative humidity will be maintained at 60 per cent during the summer and monsoon months,” the official said. He added, “With the start of Phase-II the Delhi metro will start travelling very long distances covering around 50 km in some cases such as Dwarka-Noida, Gugaon –Jahangirpuri; to avoid confusion more sign boards will be put.” CCTVs inside coachesAll the trains in Phase-II will have closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) inside the coaches apart from cameras outside to allow the drivers a clear vision of the entry and exit points of passengers. The drivers will also be able to observe passenger behaviour at all times. “The trains in Phase-II are also being designed to travel up to a maximum design speed of 95 kmph as against 90 kmph in Phase-I. The braking system is also better as DMRC will use wheel mounted disc brakes which will be micro processor controlled. In addition, the train will have energy absorbent couplers which can absorb shock and reduce damage to the car body structure in collisions,” the official said. © Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu |