Rlys to soon introduce 'SMART' coaches

Railways will introduce aesthetically-designed coaches equipped with latest amenities for improving travel experiences of its passengers.

“These new SMART (Specially Modified Aesthetic Refreshing Travel) coaches would cater to emerging needs of our customers and also ensure lower unit cost of operations due to higher carrying capacity,” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said while introducing the Rail Budget today.

Railways is planning to reimagine the design and layout of coaches to ensure higher carrying capacity and provision of new amenities including automatic doors, barcode readers, bio-vacuum toilets, water-level indicators, dustbins, ergonomic seating, improved aesthetics, entertainment screens, LED-lit boards for advertising and passenger address sysytem.

The minister said the railways has received funds under MPLADS and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

He said, 124 MPs have commited to contributing towards better passenger amenities.

Railways has added over 65,000 additional berths by augmenting 884 coaches, installed 2,500 water-vending machines at stations, provided mobile charging points in general class coaches, placed dustbins in all new non-AC coaches, enabled online booking of retiring rooms, and set up mechanised laundries to provide clean and hygienic bed rolls.

He said disposable bed rolls are now available at select stations to all classes of passengers.