LUCKNOW: From next week, engineers of Lucknow-based Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will kickstart trials of the newly designed air condition three tier coache developed on Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) platform -- which will now have capacity of 83 berths.
The coach which left Kapurthala coach factory on Thursday wee hours is expected to reach Secunderabad division of south central railway on Saturday, where trails will begin under the supervision of RDSO team.
Trial would be conducted in two phase—including first on mainline standard track between Vikarabad–Parli section of Secunderabad railway division, where the coach will be hauled at an maximum speed of 115 kmph in stage wise manner. Later, the coach will go through second phase trial at high-speed track between Kota-Nagda section of western central railway at 180 kmph. The trial will be concluded on March 8, following which a report will be submitted to commissioner of railway safety for operational certificate and clearance.
Speaking on anonymity, an official associated with the development of 83 berths LHB AC 3 tier coach said, “The coach will be fitted with several sensors to monitor its behaviour such as vibrations, acceleration during various stage including emergency simulation, running with completely empty coach and loaded with sand bags as well.”
Ashish Agrawal, the RDSO PRO told TOI, that coach and the RDSO team is expected to reach Secunderabad on Saturday, following which on February 13 and 14, the team will do instrumentation work on coach—that is fitting sensors and by February 16 the trials will begin.
Grabbing the opportunity of railway board decision to do away with linen in covid-19 pandemic, Lucknow based research designs and standards organisation engineers decided to use the extra space for accommodating more berths. Currently there are 72 berths in the AC three tier coaches of LHB with electronic instruments and linen bedding storage at the two ends of coach near lavatory.
But in the newly designed coach, the electronic circuit has been shifted beneath the coach.