The Delhi (Sarai Rohilla) to Jaipur train will have 12 coaches in the beginning with 120 seats in each compartment, up from 78 in Shatabdi coaches. But at 4.36m high, it is only 12cm taller than an ordinary train. While 50 of its 120 seats are on the upper deck, 48 are on the lower deck, and 22 are at normal height. The journey time will be four-and-a-half hours for a total of 303km, and the fare has been kept at Rs 327.

Permanand Singh, chief designer of the coaches manufactured at the Kapurthala Coach Factory with help from RDSO, said all the coaches are made of stainless steel to lessen weight. The train is so designed that the coaches will not pile up in an accident - a first in India. Capable of travelling at 160kmph, the train has a special air suspension for a smooth ride. Each of these coaches costs Rs 3 crore, against Rs 2.5 crore for a Rajdhani coach and Rs 1.5 crore for a normal AC coach.

Recounting the history of double decker trains in India, minister Roy said, "Double decker train services were available on Indian Railways since 1975. However, as there were certain problems in these services, despite their passenger carrying capacity the trains were not increased. In 2009, the services were revived with the new concept of air-conditioned coaches. And in 2011, the first air-conditioned double decker service commenced between Howrah and Dhanbad."

Source: The Times of India

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