Passengers travelling short distances from Lucknow are set to experience another level of inter-city travel as Northern Railway (NR) is going to replace the old Memu trains with a fresh set of air-conditioned coaches.

This comes as good news for those who travel to Barabanki, Unnao, Kanpur and other neighbouring districts in Memu (mainline electric multiple unit) trains, also known as local trains.

NR officials said the new-generation Memu trains would be introduced in phases.

“Initially, we have picked up Ghaziabad-New Delhi-Palwal route where the old set of Memu trains have been replaced by the new set of trains,” said Deepak Kumar, chief public relations officer (CPRO), Northern Railway (NR).

At present, the manufacturing of Memu train coaches is in progress at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, said Kumar.

“Once the coaches are manufactured, other divisions too would see replacement of Memu trains,” he added.

Currently, there are more than 12 Memu trains, which connect Lucknow, Kanpur and adjoining districts.

Officials said the new trains would be more or less like the sophisticated coaches of Vande Bharat Express – the country’s first engineless train.

“The new coaches will be sophisticated, spacious and sturdier. The trains would have eight stainless steel coaches designed to run at a speed of 130km\hr and have the capacity to accommodate 2,618 passengers. The existing coaches can run at a speed of 100km\hr and have the capacity to accommodate 2,200 passengers,” said an official.

Unlike the present version of Memu trains, the new ones would be air-conditioned and would have sliding doors.

“The coaches will have more comfortable seats, GPS-enabled information system, CCTV surveillance system and automated doors,” he added.

HIGHLIGHTS

AC coaches with automated doors, GPS system

The new coaches will be sophisticated, spacious and sturdier. The trains would have eight stainless steel coaches designed to run at a speed of 130km\hr and have the capacity to accommodate 2,618 passengers, said an official.

The existing coaches can run at a speed of 100km\hr and have the capacity to accommodate 2,200 passengers, he said.

“The coaches will have more comfortable seats, GPS-enabled information system, CCTV surveillance system and automated doors,” he added.

First Published: Apr 24, 2019 11:02 IST